Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

PTSD as Pathologically Anchored Flashbacks: A Mutant Form of Emotional Déjà Vu

Kaisen YangUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo China*

* Corresponding author:

Abstract

This paper puts forward that the PTSD experience, which is often called a traumatic flashback, might be a pathological variant of emotional déjà vu. It is characterized by intrusive memories, which are represented in the form of non-linear, affectively charged, and incoherent with the individual’s autobiographical narrative. Borrowing from neurocognitive ideas, including Emotionally Enhanced Memory (EEM) and the Multiple Trace Memory (MTM), we purport that a severe trauma results in the hyper-consolidation of the amygdala-activated fragments owing to the overstimulation of the amygdala and hippocampal dysregulation. These fractions refer to the pathological anchors that take place and the experience woven together like a distorted and high-arousal déjà vu. Additionally, we propose that the DRM paradigm, which has been modified, can produce such flashbacks in an experimental setting. Hence, it should be viewed as a tool to study and possibly reduce PTSD through memory retrieval and reconsolidation.

Keywords: flashbacks; déjà vu; pathological anchoring; emotional memory; DRM paradigm
Published: November 5, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.HT28851
Volume: CHR Vol.93
pp. 65-71
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