Awake Reactivation of Prior Experiences Consolidates Memories and Biases Cognition

Abstract

Recent human fMRI studies provide evidence for spontaneous memory-related reactivation and hippocampal interactions during awake post-encoding time periods.

Prefrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation globally improves learning, but does not selectively potentiate the benefits of Targeted Memory Reactivation on awake memory consolidation

“…Thus, the benefits of tDCS over the DLPFC might primarily stem from a direct modulation of synaptic plasticity processes within prefrontal areas, in itself favouring memory reorganization, eventually leading to improved recall accuracy. Secondly, as mentioned above, memory consolidation processes are thought to rely on the offline reactivation of learning-related neural activity (Peigneux et al, 2006;Tambini & Davachi, 2019;Wamsley, 2019). The reactivation of declarative, hippocampus-dependent memories through a dialogue between hippocampal and neocortical areas is possibly mediated by slow oscillatory activity at wake (Brokaw et al, 2016) like during sleep (Buzsaki, 1996).…”

“…Supporting this hypothesis, animal and human studies evidenced the reinstatement of learningrelated brain activity during offline post-training periods, both at wake (Humiston, Tucker, Summer, & Wamsley, 2019;Peigneux et al, 2006;Tambini & Davachi, 2019;Wamsley, 2019) and during sleep (Jegou et al, 2019;Peigneux et al, 2004;Sara, 2010;Schonauer et al, 2017;Skaggs & Mcnaughton, 1996;Valdes, McNaughton, & Fellous, 2015). Although several studies reported better consolidation in declarative memory after sleep than wakefulness, mostly associated with the triggering of learning-related brain activity during slow wave sleep (SWS; for reviews see e.g.…”

“…Born & Wilhelm, 2012;S. Diekelmann & Born, 2010;Hu, Cheng, Chiu, & Paller, 2020;Westermann, Lange, Textor, & Born, 2015), others showed that quiet wakefulness can also benefit memory consolidation (e.g., Craig, Ottaway, & Dewar, 2018;Dewar, Alber, Butler, Cowan, & Della Sala, 2012;Dewar, Garcia, Cowan, & Della Sala, 2009;Humiston et al, 2019;Tambini & Davachi, 2019;Tambini, Ketz, & Davachi, 2010;Wamsley, 2019). For instance, memory for stories was found superior after 10 minutes spent in a wakeful resting state than after an equivalent period of time spent in active wakefulness (Dewar et al, 2012).…”

Faster than thought: Detecting sub-second activation sequences with sequential fMRI pattern analysis

“…Such investigations are particularly difficult in humans, where signal detection must occur non-invasively, unless rare medical circumstances allow otherwise. How fast and anatomically localized neural dynamics can be studied using available neuroimaging techniques, in particular functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), is therefore a major challenge for human neuroscience [for recent reviews, see e.g., 22, 23]. Here, we developed and experimentally validated a novel multivariate analysis method that allows to reveal the content and order of fast sequential neural events with anatomical specificity in humans using fMRI.…”

Awake reactivation and suppression after brief task exposure depend on task novelty

“…A large number of studies have shown that post-learning neural processes play a critical role in consolidating new memories (Diekelmann & Born, 2010;McGaugh, 2000;Sasaki, Nanez, & Watanabe, 2010). One of the consolidation processes is the reemergence of the brain activities involved in the initial task during following wakefulness and sleep (Foster, 2017;Pfeiffer, 2017;Tambini & Davachi, 2019).…”