Behavioral reconsolidation interference with episodic memory within-subjects is elusive.

Daniel A Levy,Roni Tibon,Cecilia Radzyminski,Rotem Mika,Shir Ben-Zvi

doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2018.03.004

Abstract

In studies of behavioral reconsolidation interference, reactivation of a consolidated memory using some form of reminder is followed by the presentation of new information that can cause interference with that memory. Under these conditions, the interference not only impairs retrieval by indirect processes such as cue interference, but supposedly disrupts the original memory trace directly. Almost all studies of behavioral reconsolidation interference in episodic memory in humans have employed between-subjects paradigms, and deduced reminder effects from intrusion errors. Such studies might introduce confounds arising, for example, from differences in retrieval strategies engendered by the pre-test treatments. We therefore set out to examine whether behavioral reconsolidation interference in episodic memory might be demonstrated within-subjects and by direct memory strength rather than intrusion errors. In three separate experiments, we attempted to disrupt reconsolidation of episodic object-picture memory using a reminder + retroactive interference manipulation. We applied the manipulation over three consecutive days, using a forced-choice recognition test without intrusions from interfering learning, keeping all other study and test parameters constant. No effects of reminder-potentiated interference were observed for measures of accuracy, response times, subjective expressions of recollection, or levels of confidence, as substantiated by Bayesian analyses. These results highlight the difficulty of observing clear behavioral reconsolidation interference effects within-subjects in human episodic memory, and provide some indications of what might be boundary conditions for its demonstration.

Highlights

One of the most interesting topics of inquiry in contemporary memory research is the phenomenon of reconsolidation
We examined the effects of reminder, interference and the interaction between them on accuracy and response times at test, by using a 2 × 2 repeated measures ANOVA, with Interference and Reminder as repeated factors
We speculate that perhaps the reminder activation of the ‘gist’ memory of the item type in the absence of re-viewing of the particular stimulus led to a decline in subjective re-experiencing at retrieval, even while improving the objective memory for that stimulus

Summary

Introduction

One of the most interesting topics of inquiry in contemporary memory research is the phenomenon of reconsolidation. In studies of behavioral reconsolidation interference, reactivation of a consolidated memory using some form of reminder is followed by the presentation of new information that can cause interference with that memory. Under these conditions, the interference is supposed to impair retrieval by indirect processes such as cue interference, but to directly disrupt the original memory trace. Reconsolidation interference is asserted to have occurred if retrieval of target memory information is more greatly impaired when interference is preceded by a reminder compared to a condition in which reminder reactivation was not followed by new interfering information, or a condition in which the new information was not preceded by a reminder (Hupbach et al, 2015; Scully et al, 2017)

Methods

Results

Conclusion