The impact of virtual reality analog‑trauma films and Tetris gameplay duration on intrusive memories

Type

Article

Keywords

Virtual reality, Trauma-film paradigm, Memory consolidation, PTSD, Prevention

Abstract

In the aftermath of traumatic events, disrupting the consolidation of memories into long-term storage may decrease the frequency of subsequent intrusive memories and perhaps prevent the onset of posttraumatic stress disorder. Initial tests of this hypothesis, in which participants watched an analog-trauma film and then engaged in a visuospatial task (playing Tetris), have yielded promising results. We aimed to extend previous research in two key ways: by examining the effect of film modality (virtual reality [VR] headset vs. standard monitor) on the ecological validity of analog-trauma studies, and by varying the memory interference task duration (with 0-, 7-, and 14-min conditions) toward identifying the minimum duration needed to meaningfully reduce intrusive memories. In a sample of 173 healthy participants, we found that viewing analog-trauma films in VR (relative to a standard monitor) increased “presence” though not negative affect or intrusive memories. Unexpectedly, playing Tetris for 14 min resulted in more intrusive memories across the subsequent 5 days than playing for 0 min. Desirably, film type and interference task duration did not significantly impact declarative memory of the analog-trauma film from 5 days prior. Findings suggest that VR analog-trauma films promote greater verisimilitude, a component of ecological validity. Explanations for the unanticipated impact of Tetris and hence potential boundary conditions of its benefits are discussed.

Department(s)

Psychology

Journal or Book Title

Memory & Cognition

Publication Year

2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-026-01872-8

Publisher

Springer

Rights Management

Carleton College does not own the copyright to this work and the work is available through the Carleton College Library following the original publisher policies regarding self-archiving. For more information on the copyright status of this work, refer to the current copyright holder.

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