Non-linear susceptibility to interferences in declarative memory formation

MOYANO, MALEN D.; GIULIA CARBONARI; MATÍAS BONILLA; MARÍA E PEDREIRA; LUIS BRUSCO; LAURA KACZER; CECILIA FORCATO

PLOS ONE

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

Lugar: San Francisco; Año: 2022 vol. 17 p. 1 - 16

1932-6203

After encoding, memories go through a labile state followed by a stabilization processknown as consolidation. Once consolidated they can enter a new labile state after the presentationof a reminder of the original memory, followed by a period of re-stabilization(reconsolidation). During these periods of lability the memory traces can be modified. Currently,some studies show a rapid stabilization after 30 min, while others show that stabilizationoccurs after longer periods (e.g. > 6 h). Here we investigate the effect of an interferencetreatment on declarative memory consolidation, comparing distinct time intervals afteracquisition. On day 1, participants learned a list of non- syllable pairs (List 1). 5 min, 30 min,3 h or 8 h later, they received an interference list (List 2) that acted as an amnesic agent. Onday 2 (48 h after training) participants had to recall List 1 first, followed by List 2. We foundthat the List 1 memory was susceptible to interference when List 2 was administered 5 minor 3 h after learning but not when it was administered 30 min or 8 h after. We propose thepossibility that this rapid memory protection could be induced by a fast and transient neocorticalintegration. Our results open a discussion about the contribution of molecular and systemicaspects to memory consolidation.