Sleep May Help Erase Bad Memories and Act as Emotional Therapy

A new study suggests that sleep can help weaken bad memories by reactivating positive ones during rest

Sleep May Help Erase Bad Memories and Act as Emotional Therapy
Sleep May Help Erase Bad Memories and Act as Emotional Therapy

Hong Kong: Researchers have found that sleep might actually help us forget bad memories. They used a technique called targeted memory reactivation (TMR) to boost good memories while we sleep.

In their study, 37 participants were shown some random words linked to unpleasant images. The next night, they saw some of those words paired with positive images, like cute animals or happy scenes. While they slept, the researchers played sounds to help trigger those positive memories.

When the participants woke up, they remembered the good images better and had less recall of the bad ones. This shows that sleep can help us process emotions and memories in a way that might lessen the impact of negative experiences.

Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a neurologist, pointed out that TMR could be a game-changer for treating PTSD and other tough memories. He mentioned that this method combines sensory cues with therapy during specific sleep phases, which can help reduce the emotional weight of bad memories.

Another expert, Dr. Alex Dimitriu, found the study fascinating. He believes sleep acts like therapy for our emotions, helping us sort through feelings. He’s seen many patients feel better when they improve their sleep.

While the study is promising, the researchers noted some limitations. They mentioned that the lab-created experiences might not fully reflect real-life trauma. They also suggested future research should look into how to use positive memories to help with real-life trauma.

Overall, this study opens up exciting possibilities for treating emotional issues without relying solely on medication.

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