Retrieval-Induced Forgetting in a Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Epilepsy Model in the Rat.

Ahmad Almahozi,Saeed Bin Jabal,Maan Alsaaid,Amer Kamal

doi:10.3390/brainsci8120215

Abstract

The selective retrieval of some information may lead to the forgetting of related, but non-retrieved information. This memory phenomenon is termed retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF). Active inhibition is thought to function to resolve interference from competing information during retrieval, which results in forgetting. Epilepsy is associated with impaired inhibitory control that contributes to executive dysfunction. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether rats in a kindling model of epilepsy demonstrate normal levels of RIF. Rats were divided into two groups: saline and kindling. Pentylenetetrazole was injected intraperitoneally until the rats kindled. RIF was tested using a modified version of the spontaneous object recognition test, consisting of a sample phase, retrieval or interference phase, and a test phase. Exploration time for each object was analyzed. RIF was demonstrated in the saline group when rats subjected to the retrieval phase failed to discriminate between the familiar object and the novel object later in the test phase. Kindled rats, on the other hand, did not suffer forgetting even when they were subjected to the retrieval phase, as they spent significantly longer times exploring the novel rather than the familiar object in the test phase. Therefore, RIF was not observed in the kindling group. These findings indicate impaired retrieval-induced forgetting in kindled rats, which may be suggestive of a deficit in the inhibitory control of memory.

Highlights

Retrieval-induced forgetting refers to the paradoxical finding wherein the act of remembering some information leads to the forgetting of other related, but non-retrieved information [1]
Rats subjected to the retrieval phase, explored both objects almost in the test phase (t-test, t(12) = −1.06, p = 0.153), indicating that they could not discriminate between the familiar and the novel object (Figure 2)
Analysis of the total exploration time showed no significant differences between the three groups in the test phase (ANOVA, F(2,53) = 1.074, p = 0.349)

Summary

Introduction

Retrieval-induced forgetting refers to the paradoxical finding wherein the act of remembering some information leads to the forgetting of other related, but non-retrieved information [1]. You may experience such forgetting when, for example, you encounter someone that you recognize, but you are unable to recall their name, even though it is “on the tip of your tongue”. Half of the items from half of the categories are practiced. All of the studied items (including those from both practiced and non-practiced categories) are tested for recall.

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Conclusion