Recognition Memory Bias in Earthquake-Exposed Survivors: A Behavioral and ERP Study.
To investigate the neural correlates of earthquake-related stimuli among earthquake-exposed survivors, 13 earthquake-exposed undergraduates without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 13 matched controls completed a study-test task during which event-related potentials were recorded synchronously. The earthquake-exposed group exhibited stronger P2, P300 and late positive component amplitudes to earthquake-related stimuli compared with the control group on the anterior scalp during recognition memory processing. In addition, earthquake-related stimuli elicited enhanced positivity compared with neutral stimuli in the earthquake-exposed group. The results indicate that earthquake-exposed subjects demonstrate recognition memory bias toward threatening stimuli. Even though both groups showed no PTSD symptoms, potential threat cues or stimuli associated with a traumatic event may trigger traumatic memories in this group. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.