medRxivSeptember 23, 2026Kevin J. Clancy, Boyu Ren, Isabelle M. Rosso
preprint
Trauma-related intrusive memories (TRIMs) are a core symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder and cause significant distress and impairment for trauma-exposed individuals due to their vivid sensory features that intrude on ongoing thought. These phenomenological properties point to a neuropathology that spans autobiographical memory, spontaneous thought, and sensory perception. The hierarchical...
Distressing dreams or nightmares about a traumatic experience are common among trauma-exposed individuals and contribute to the maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Like other intrusive reexperiencing symptoms, trauma-related nightmares are characterized by vivid sensory details and heightened emotional intensity. However, little is known about their underlying...