City Research Online

Abstract

Purpose: A heated debate exists on whether traumatic memories can be dissociated or repressed.
One way in which researchers have attempted to prove the existence of dissociative amnesia or repressed memory is to examine whether claims of amnesia for traumatic events are associated with specific neural markers.
Methods: Here, we will argue that such neuroscientific examinations do not tell us whether traumatic memories can be unconsciously repressed or dissociated from consciousness, respectively.
Results: We discuss neuroscientific studies on dissociative amnesia and repressed memory and show that there are no reliable biological markers for dissociative amnesia and that the alleged involved brain areas are heterogenous among studies. Furthermore, we will demonstrate that it is unclear whether these studies truly involved patients with dissociative amnesia and that alternative explanations of dissociative amnesia were often not ruled out (e.g., malingering, organic amnesia). Moreover, we will make the case that the discussed patients in the studies do not meet the DSM-5 criteria for dissociative amnesia.
Conclusions: Taken together, neuroscientific research into dissociative amnesia does not present a convincing case for a biological basis of the purported memory loss.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L. , Patihis, L. , Mangiulli, I., Dodier, O., Huntjens, R., Krackow, E., Jelicic, M. & Lynn, S. J. (2023). The Neuroscience of Dissociative Amnesia and Repressed Memory: Premature Conclusions and Unanswered Questions. Legal and Criminological Psychology, which will be published in final form at https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20448333. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
Publisher Keywords:	Dissociative Amnesia; Repressed Memory; Memory Wars; Neuroscience
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HM Sociology K Law > K Law (General)
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology

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