CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

In the present study we explored the post-learning changes in a novel word?s definition using a cue-induced memory reactivation. Native speakers of Spanish(N=373)learned low-frequency words with their corresponding definitions. The following day, reactivated groups were exposed to a reminder and provided a subjective assessment ofreactivation for each word, while control groups did not receive a reactivation. Study Ademonstrated that memory reactivation enhances both explicit recall and semantic integration of new meanings. Study B investigated the effect of memory reactivation in the modification of the new meanings, through three different experiments. Results show an improvement of the updated definitions according toeach word ́s reactivation strength. In addition, congruence with previous knowledge was found to be a boundary condition, while consolidation time had a positive modulatory effect. Our findings callattention to reactivation as a factor allowingfor malleability as well as persistence of long-term memories for words