Reconsolidation theories and regression hypnotherapy

Reconsolidation is a new theory within psychotherapy. Here is a look at what it is and how it affects regression hypnotherapy.

What is reconsolidation theory?

Reconsolidation has been developed over the last 25 years (Bermudez-Rattoni, 2007) (Nader, 2015). It describes the process by which when a memory is triggered, it is recalled and then replaced with a new memory.

The conventional thinking was that a memory was simply activated when remembered and the memory itself didn’t change. This has been shown to be incorrect and now it is believed when you remember something the memory goes through a reconsolidation process where the memory is recalled and then replaced with a new memory rather than just being activated.

What is useful is in the transition period between recollection and replacement (referred to as reconsolidation) there is the opportunity to make changes to the old memory both in terms of the emotion attached to the memory and the memory itself. This then leads to the possibility of being able to change the way someone’s memories affect their mental health and so improve their mental well-being.

There are a number of new pharmacologic approaches whereby the memory can be impacted during reconsolidation but this article will mainly focus on the theory’s impact on psychological approaches, particularly regression hypnotherapy.

How do theories on reconsolidation affect exposure therapy?

Let’s look at an example of when a patient is exposed to a related stimulus, in this case, a patient with a fear of heights climbs up a tall building. When the patient is exposed to this fear, the traumatic memories that drive the fear are recalled and then ‘reconsolidated’ subconsciously whilst the patient is exposed.

To put this simply, say a patient’s fear of heights is caused solely by falling from a tree when they were young, this memory would be recalled whilst the patient is exposed to the fear and then the memory is replaced as a new interpretation of the memory of falling from the tree during the exposure process. 

This then brings in the possibility of changing the interpretation of the memory and the trauma related to it whilst it is being reconsolidated and so leading to effective change in the patient’s condition. This is the basis of exposure therapy as interpreted through the perspective of reconsolidation.

The main problem with the reconsolidation process within exposure is the memories are recalled whilst a patient is exposed to the fear, so as they are replaced, they are replaced with new fear. Through this process patients can go through positive and negative reconsolidation. So the memory can have attached to it greater or lesser degrees of trauma depending on the circumstances of the new exposure. As a result, a patient’s condition can improve through exposure but it can also deteriorate. The circumstances of the exposure leading to the different outcomes.

How do reconsolidation theories affect regression hypnotherapy?

Regression hypnotherapy is a process whereby a patient in hypnosis is regressed back to an experience they have had that has caused the symptoms they present with. Questions are then asked which facilitate a change in the interpretation of the memory, and the feelings associated with it, which leads to the memory no longer causing the patient’s symptoms.

Viewed from a reconsolidation perspective, as the patient is regressed back the memory is recalled and then reconsolidated with what is effectively a new memory, a memory that no longer has the trauma associated with it. The patient goes through a ‘reconsolidation window’ where the memory is susceptible to change during hypnosis.

The advantage of using hypnotherapy to achieve reconsolidation, is the memory is much more susceptible to change within hypnosis than with conventional psychotherapies. This is because of the deeply relaxed state, there is a greater release of trauma during reconsolidation and therefore a greater change of how the memory affects the patient's symptoms. The changed memory now leads to a different interpretation of the situation so as to no longer cause the symptoms the patient seeks treatment for.

Reconsolidation and the future of regression hypnotherapy

Unfortunately, the theories on reconsolidation, so far, add little to the regression hypnotherapy process itself, hopefully in the future the theories will develop to improve the efficacy of regression hypnotherapy further.

Theories on reconsolidation help to explain how regression hypnotherapy has been so effective over the last 100 years or so and give evidence as to why its use should be extended across conventional psychotherapy.