Experience of Trauma on Overgeneral Autobiographical Memory: The moderating influence of cognitive load and heart rate variability
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Date
2016-05
Authors
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM) is characterized by the recall of nonspecific and vague autobiographical memories in response to cue words in place of specific, episodic memories. Overgeneral memory has been linked to posttraumatic stress disorder. However, the relationship between experience of trauma and OGM in nonclinical samples has yet to be clearly established, with some studies suggesting a link and others finding no significant relationship. Because of these incongruent findings in the past, investigating the impact of moderators is important in understanding the relationship between experience of trauma and OGM. The current study investigates whether the links between a trauma history in a nonclinical population and OGM become more clear when the moderating impact of individual differences in inhibitory control or varying levels of cognitive load are considered. Participants were 300 college students (59% female, 68.5% Caucasian) who completed measures of OGM and experience of trauma and were placed under varying cognitive load conditions after an electrocardiogram recording was taken in order to assess resting heart rate variability (HRV), which provides a measure of inhibitory control capacity. Results indicate that HRV and cognitive load impact the association between experience of trauma and OGM such that OGM increases in individuals with a trauma history when they exhibit low HRV and when placed under high cognitive load.
Description
Denman, 4th place
Keywords
overgeneral autobiographical memory, trauma, cognitive load, heart rate variability, HRV, OGM