Final answer:
Psychological research has identified drugs that can weaken memories, which could lead to new treatments for PTSD. Memory is influenced by emotional intensity and can be affected by various factors including trauma, bias, and interference. Memory enhancement strategies include the use of mnemonics and proper sleep.
Step-by-step explanation:
Researchers in the field of psychology have discovered that certain drugs can weaken memories of recent events. Such findings have implications for treating disorders like post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), where recollection plays a detrimental role in a person's life. The possibility of repressed memories, which began with Sigmund Freud, remains controversial, but current research continues to explore the link between trauma and memory.
The concept of anterograde amnesia points to the loss of memory for events that occur after brain trauma. According to arousal theory, strong emotions lead to the formation of strong memories, while less intense emotions result in weaker memories. The Atkinson-Shiffrin model explains that we process information through sensory, short-term, and long-term memory systems, but this process can be disrupted by memory errors such as blocking, bias, and interference.
Efforts to enhance memory are ongoing; strategies like mnemonic devices, rehearsal, self-referencing, and ensuring adequate sleep are known to aid memory retention. However, the release of neurotransmitters, like glutamate during stress, can emphasize the memory of stressful events, which is central to the flashbulb memory phenomenon.