Repeated labilization-reconsolidation processes strengthen declarative memory in humans

• Autores: Forcato, C.; Rodríguez, M.L.C.; Pedreira, M.E.
• Año de publicación: 2011
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Fuente: PLoS ONE 2011;6(8)
• Materia: adult; analysis of variance; article; association; brain function; controlled study; declarative memory; human; human experiment; information processing; learning; memory consolidation; mental performance; normal human; verbal memory; working memory; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; female; long term memory; male; memory; physiology; randomized controlled trial; recall; Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Memory; Mental Recall; Retention (Psychology); Young Adult
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales

The idea that memories are immutable after consolidation has been challenged. Several reports have shown that after the presentation of a specific reminder, reactivated old memories become labile and again susceptible to amnesic agents. Such vulnerability diminishes with the progress of time and implies a re-stabilization phase, usually referred to as reconsolidation. To date, the main findings describe the mechanisms associated with the labilization-reconsolidation process, but little is known about its functionality from a biological standpoint. Indeed, two functions have been proposed. One suggests that destabilization of the original memory after the reminder allows the integration of new information into the background of the original memory (memory updating), and the other suggests that the labilization-reconsolidation process strengthens the original memory (memory strengthening). We have previously reported the reconsolidation of human declarative memories, demonstrating memory updating in the framework of reconsolidation. Here we deal with the strengthening function attributed to the reconsolidation process. We triggered labilization-reconsolidation processes successively by repeated presentations of the proper reminder. Participants learned an association between five cue-syllables and their respective response-syllables. Twenty-four hours later, the paired-associate verbal memory was labilized by exposing the subjects to one, two or four reminders. The List-memory was evaluated on Day 3 showing that the memory was improved when at least a second reminder was presented in the time window of the first labilization-reconsolidation process prompted by the earlier reminder. However, the improvement effect was revealed on Day 3, only when at least two reminders were presented on Day2 and not as a consequence of only retrieval. Therefore, we propose central concepts for the reconsolidation process, emphasizing its biological role and the parametrical constrains for this function to be operative. © 2011 Forcato et al.
Fil:Forcato, C. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.
Fil:Pedreira, M.E. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.