Let's be skeptical about reconsolidation and emotional arousal in therapy

2015/01/01 by Lawrence Patihis · 1 citation
Psychology · Neuroscience · #Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications #Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics #Memory consolidation #Skepticism #Psychology #Arousal #Psychotherapist #Cognitive psychology #Neuroscience #Philosophy #Epistemology

paper · doi:10.1017/s0140525x14000272

openalex publication_date 2015/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15

Abstract

Lane et al. imply hypotheses that are questionable: that emotional arousal is a cause of positive change and reconsolidation research can be applied to therapy to alter memory. Given the history of problematic attempts to incorporate memory distortion or high emotional arousal into therapeutic techniques, both of which heralded premature optimism and hubris, I urge open-minded skepticism.

Citations

• The Seductive Allure of Neuroscience Explanations
• Single session debriefing after psychological trauma: a meta-analysis
• The empirical status of cognitive-behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses

Cited by

• Emotionally focused therapy [wikipedia]