Experimental data suggests that playing Tetris after a traumatic event can reduce the occurrence of the vivid and intrusive flashbacks that are symptomatic of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It seems to work because it requires concentrated use of the brain's visual processing centres - similar cognitive tasks compete for shared resources - and so disrupts the storage of recent visual memories.
Subjects can still recall and describe events as accurately as those without intervention, but are spared some of the distressing spontaneous flashbacks that can intrude on their everyday lives.
Published Data
New Scientist Article
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