Flashbacks and Memory Phenomena
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease May 1, 1984 DOI: 10.1097/00005053-198405000-00004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 27 |
| Key points | Argues that flashbacks following hallucinogenic drug use may be better viewed as instances of normal memory processes, such as 'cued retrieval,' rather than as pathological phenomena, though they may be accompanied by emotional distress. This framing links flashbacks to the wider memory literature and makes them amenable to investigation using designs from that literature. |
Abstract
Alarcon, Dickinson, and Dohn (J. Nerv. Ment. Dis., 170: 217-223, 1982) recently reviewed the phenomenon of memory flashback following use of hallucinogenic drugs. They point out that while there are a considerable number of explanations concerning the flashback mechanism, little is known about the real causes. This paper examines flashback following drug ingestion in the light of other memory phenomena concerned with "cued retrieval" effects. Such phenomena may include dream recall, delayed post-traumatic stress, mood influence on memory, and drug effects on memory. Rather than view flashbacks as "pathological" in some sense, it may be better to view them as instances of normal memory processes, which may, nevertheless, be accompanied by emotional distress. Such a view relates flashbacks to a wider memory literature, and also makes them amenable to investigation using research designs derived from that literature.