Tetris, Trauma Memory and Psychological First Aid
First aid does not stop when the physical emergency is over. Here is what early research suggests, and what responders can do.
By Britt Brennan, REACHAU | Updated 16 October 2026
First aid training prepares you for the moments of an emergency. What happens in the hours and days afterwards can matter just as much for the people involved.
Responders and workplace safety officers are increasingly asked to understand this. A small body of early research gives them something useful to know, with some clear limits.
Quick answer
Some small studies suggest that playing a visuospatial game like Tetris within about six hours of a traumatic event may reduce the number of intrusive memories and flashbacks in the following days. The research is promising but early, the results are mixed, and it is not part of formal psychological first aid guidelines. It is a low-risk option to offer, never a replacement for professional support.
What you will learn
- How traumatic memories form and why some become intrusive
- What the dual-task interference idea is and why Tetris was studied
- What the research has and has not shown
- What responders can practically do after an incident
- When to encourage someone to seek professional support
1How Traumatic Memories Form
After a traumatic event, the brain tries to process and store what happened. Usually memories are organised and can be recalled without too much distress. After trauma, that process can be disrupted.
Traumatic memories tend to be stored with intense sensory detail, especially visual detail. These vivid fragments can return later as intrusive images or flashbacks that are hard to control and very distressing.
The six-hour window.
Researchers have focused on the first few hours after an event, while memories are still being consolidated. Several studies tested a task within about six hours of the event. The idea is that the brain may be more open to influence in that period.
This is not about telling someone to forget what happened or making their experience smaller. It is about understanding that the first hours after trauma may matter.
2The Dual-Task Interference Idea
The Tetris research rests on a simple idea. The brain has limited resources, and demanding tasks compete for them.
| Traumatic memories use | Tetris also uses |
|---|---|
| Visual and spatial processing, storing shapes, movement and sensory fragments with high intensity. | The same visuospatial systems. The player must mentally rotate and place shapes in real time, which is active processing, not passive viewing. |
When a person does a task that heavily uses those systems, there may be less capacity to store the traumatic images in the same way.
This is not the same as distraction
Distraction simply moves attention elsewhere. The theory is that Tetris creates specific interference because it uses the same processing systems as visual memory. Researchers have found that other activities, such as some word games, do not seem to have the same effect.
3What the Research Shows
Researchers have tested visuospatial tasks in the hours after distressing events, including in laboratory studies using distressing film, and in small trials with people after car crashes and emergency surgery. Results suggest fewer intrusive memories in some groups, but the studies are small and not all results agree.
| Research finding | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Fewer intrusive memories in some studies | Some participants reported fewer flashbacks and intrusive images in the following days and weeks. |
| Timing seems to matter | The effect has been strongest when the task was done within the first few hours, with studies using a six-hour window. |
| Later options are being studied | Newer research is looking at whether recalling a memory later opens a second window. This is still being tested. |
| Active play seems to matter | Mentally rotating and placing shapes appears to work better than watching the game passively. |
Important limits
The effect looks strongest for how often intrusive images occur, not for how distressing they feel when they do. Results are mixed, trials are small and the work is ongoing. This is a low-risk, low-cost idea to be aware of. It is not a treatment, it cannot promise to prevent PTSD, and it does not replace professional support.
4What This Means for First Aid Responders
As a first aider or workplace safety officer, you may be present in the aftermath of a traumatic incident. Knowing the basics of psychological first aid helps you support colleagues and bystanders beyond physical care.
Commonly used psychological first aid frameworks focus on a few core principles:
| Principle | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Help the person feel safe | Move them away from the scene where possible. Speak calmly and clearly. Avoid crowds gathering around them. |
| Reduce ongoing stressors | Limit re-exposure to the incident. Manage bystanders. Reduce noise and chaos around them. |
| Connect with support | Help them contact family, friends or workplace support. Share details of professional services if needed. |
| Do not pressure them to talk | Do not push the person to retell the event in detail straight away. Let them talk if they want to, and listen. |
Where Tetris fits in.
The evidence for visuospatial tasks is not yet part of formal psychological first aid guidelines. It is a low-risk option a responder can mention once the person is physically safe and the emergency is under control. Offer it as an option, never an instruction, and never as a substitute for support.
If you offer it
- Deal with physical first aid first. Always.
- Offer it early. The research focuses on the first few hours, while the memory is fresh.
- Keep it short. Around 10 to 20 minutes is what studies have generally used.
- Offer, do not push. It is a choice, not a directive.
You could say: "Sometimes doing something simple like a puzzle game can help your brain settle after something like this. Want to give it a go?"
Understanding how communication styles change under stress is also useful when you support someone in acute distress.
5When to Seek Professional Support
Not everyone who goes through a traumatic event develops ongoing difficulties. Many people recover with the support of family, friends and time. Some will benefit from professional help, and knowing the difference matters.
Signs that professional support may be needed
- Persistent intrusive memories or flashbacks
- Actively avoiding reminders of the event
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Significant irritability or distress lasting more than a few weeks
- Withdrawing from normal activities and relationships
First aiders are not mental health professionals. Your role is to notice the signs and encourage the person to get help, not to diagnose or treat. If someone needs support now, they can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or their GP. If someone has thoughts of harming themselves, or is in danger, call 000.
This also matters at work. If you manage first aid responsibilities in a business, planning for the psychological side of incident response helps you support your team.
6First Aid That Builds Real Confidence
I do not teach first aid from a checklist. I teach it so people walk out knowing what to do, and why, when something real happens. That includes knowing your role once the physical emergency is stabilised.
The person in front of you may be physically fine but processing something difficult. Understanding that is part of being a confident, capable first aider. Our nationally recognised courses include HLTAID011 Provide First Aid, HLTAID012 in an Education and Care Setting, HLTAID013 for Remote or Isolated Areas and HLTAID014 Advanced First Aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can playing Tetris really reduce traumatic memories?
Some small studies suggest it may reduce how often intrusive images and flashbacks occur when played within a few hours of a traumatic event. Results are mixed and the research is still developing, so it should never replace professional support.
Does any game work?
The idea relies on tasks that use visual and spatial processing, such as Tetris. Scrolling social media or reading text is not expected to do the same thing.
Can Tetris prevent PTSD?
No one can promise that. It may reduce intrusive flashbacks for some people, but ongoing support may still be needed.
What is the six-hour window after trauma?
It is the early period after an event that several studies have focused on, while memories are still being consolidated. Researchers have tested tasks within about six hours of the event.
What is the dual-task interference idea?
The brain has limited resources, and demanding tasks compete for them. Traumatic memories are largely visual and spatial, and Tetris uses the same systems. The theory is that doing one may reduce the capacity available for the other.
What is psychological first aid and how is it different from counselling?
Psychological first aid is practical, human support in the immediate aftermath of a distressing event. It focuses on safety, reducing stress and connecting people with support. It is not counselling or therapy.
What are the signs someone needs professional support?
Persistent intrusive memories, avoiding reminders, trouble sleeping or concentrating, distress lasting more than a few weeks, and withdrawing from normal life. Encourage the person to talk to their GP or a mental health professional.
REACHAU first aid training focuses on understanding what to do, why it matters and how to act when someone needs help.
View upcoming first aid sessionsTraining and Assessment is delivered by Britt at Regional Education and Career Help Australia on behalf of ABC First Aid RTO 3399.
This article is general information and does not replace professional mental health care. It does not describe an accredited mental health course. In an emergency, call 000. For support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
