Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science

Background: Flashbacks are the hallmark symptom of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Although we have successful treatments for full-blown PTSD, early interventions are lacking. We propose the utility of developing a ‘cognitive vaccine ’ to prevent PTSD flashback development following exposure to trauma. Our theory is based on two key findings: 1) Cognitive science suggests that the brain has selective resources with limited capacity; 2) The neurobiology of memory suggests a 6-hr window to disrupt memory consolidation. The rationale for a ‘cognitive vaccine ’ approach is as follows: Trauma flashbacks are sensory-perceptual, visuospatial mental images. Visuospatial cognitive tasks selectively compete for resources required to generate mental images. Thus, a visuospatial computer game (e.g. ‘‘Tetris’’) will interfere with flashbacks. Visuospatial tasks post-trauma, performed within the time window for memory consolidation, will reduce subsequent flashbacks. We predicted that playing ‘‘Tetris’ ’ half an hour after viewing trauma would reduce flashback frequency over 1-week. Methodology/Principal Findings: The Trauma Film paradigm was used as a well-established experimental analog for Posttraumatic Stress. All participants viewed a traumatic film consisting of scenes of real injury and death followed by a 30-min structured break. Participants were then randomly allocated to either a no-task or visuospatial (‘‘Tetris’’) condition which they undertook for 10-min. Flashbacks were monitored for 1-week. Results indicated that compared to the no-tas

Means and statistics for negative mood assessment (pre vs post-trauma film) indicating equivalent deterioration in mood across conditions prior to the administration of the experimental task.

§<p>p<0.01.</p

Recognition memory for trauma film after 1-week indicating equivalent voluntary memory on the recognition task across conditions.

<p>Recognition memory for trauma film after 1-week indicating equivalent voluntary memory on the recognition task across conditions.</p

Means and statistics for age and baseline assessments indicating experimental groups were equivalent at baseline.

<p>Means and statistics for age and baseline assessments indicating experimental groups were equivalent at baseline.</p

Flashback frequency over 1- week.

<p>As predicted, there was a significant reduction in the number of flashbacks over 1-week in the visuospatial condition compared to no-task condition, t₍₃₈₎ = 2.87 (mean+/−sem).</p

Frequency of initial flashbacks during the 10-min experimental task indicating that there were significantly fewer involuntary flashback memories during the visuospatial compared to the no-task control condition.

†<p><b> = </b>p<0.05.</p