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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention
Published on: September 11, 2017
Attentional control affects the relationship between tonic immobility and intrusive memories
Muriel A Hagenaars1, Peter Putman
1Department of Clinical Health and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, PO. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands. mhagenaars@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Background And Objectives:
Cognitive control and tonic immobility (TI) have both been implicated in the development of PTSD, but it is not known how these factors are related. The present study investigated if a specific form of cognitive control (attentional control) would moderate the relationship between TI and intrusive memories.
Methods:
Participants (N = 43) completed the Attentional Control Scale (ACS) before watching an aversive film. They completed the Tonic Immobility Scale (TIS, with an immobility and fear subscale: TIS-TI and TIS-Fear) afterwards and recorded intrusive memories of the film in the subsequent week.
Results:
TIS-TI was related to intrusion frequency, while ACS was not. However, ACS had a moderating role; the relationship between TIS-TI and intrusion frequency was significant in low ACS but not in high ACS participants. The TIS-Fear subscale was not related to intrusion frequency in low ACS or high ACS participants.
Limitations:
Replication of the results is merited in selected extreme groups and males.
Conclusions:
The results may imply that enhanced attentional control serves as a protective factor against the development of intrusive memories after trauma.
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