What is the neurologic mechanism by which emotional memories are repressed?

[Green Xenon]

Hi:

 

What is the neurological mechanism by which psychologically-intense memories are repressed? Apparently the memory of the event does form, and vividly so. However, access to such a memory is usually prohibited. How does the brain deny access to emotionally-tagged memories?

 

 

Thanks,

 

Green

[lemur]

My guess would be that when the memory starts to get triggered by a cognitive association, the emotional intensity of it emerging leads the person to supplant it with another thought or process. A person could start singing to themselves or even aloud, for example, to divert themselves from a memory or thought that is too intense to deal with. I believe this is why psychotherapy works to reduce the trauma of such memories and thoughts so that they can be expressed in a less intense way and therefore cause less distress and avoidance-behavior.