Behavioral reconsolidation interference with episodic memory within-subjects is elusive

Abstract

HighlightsWe assessed behavioral reconsolidation interference in episodic memory.Employed within-subjects paradigm measuring direct memory strength.Three experiments found no effects of reminder-potentiated interference.Null effects were substantiated by Bayesian analyses.Highlights boundary conditions for behavioral reconsolidation interference effects.

Behavioural reconsolidation interference not observed in a within-subjects design

“…Some researchers have attempted to apply a within-subjects manipulation within mixed design studies 19 – 21 . However, the reconsolidation effects reported are limited to the between-subjects aspects of the studies 22 . Therefore, to examine whether these effects could be seen using a purely within-subjects design, Levy and colleagues conducted a series of experiments focusing on episodic reconsolidation interference in recognition memory for object pictures 22 .…”

“…However, the reconsolidation effects reported are limited to the between-subjects aspects of the studies 22 . Therefore, to examine whether these effects could be seen using a purely within-subjects design, Levy and colleagues conducted a series of experiments focusing on episodic reconsolidation interference in recognition memory for object pictures 22 . Those experiments were conducted over three days, to establish memories consolidated during overnight sleep, and an additional night’s sleep to enable reconsolidation after interventions.…”

“…Levy and colleagues 22 noted several possible explanations for the absence of the expected reconsolidation interference effects. That could have been due to the inordinate strength of the reminder in comparison to the interference; however, reminder strength has been shown to be unimportant in the generation of reconsolidation interference effects 23 .…”

“…That could have been due to the inordinate strength of the reminder in comparison to the interference; however, reminder strength has been shown to be unimportant in the generation of reconsolidation interference effects 23 . Levy and colleagues 22 also noted that the opposite is possible; using the names of the objects, within the reminder condition, might not have been substantial enough to reactivate the encoded memories in order to make them labile.…”

“…Therefore, in the current studies we turned to tests of associative memory and complex free recall. In all these studies, evidence for reconsolidation interference would be provided by poorer memory for studied materials when a reminder is provided before interference than for interference without a prior reminder 13 – 15 , 22 .…”