Preventing the Disruption: Previous Collaborative Recall Cancels Out Reconsolidation Disruption

Abstract

Once you have consolidated a memory, it can be reactivated and brought into a labile state, this is called memory reconsolidation. Overall, the reconsolidation research paradigm has focused on disrupting the reconsolidation process when stimuli have been encoded and recalled individually. However, in real word situations, humans tend to remember information in the company of others. This process is known as collaborative recall. Using a 3-day reconsolidation paradigm, the present study examined the effects of collaborative recall on memories that were later disrupted using fear during reconsolidation. Results replicated the robust collaborative inhibition effect and showed that reconsolidation was only disrupted for nominal groups, suggesting that previous collaboration cancels out reconsolidation disruption. Theoretical explanations of these results and future directions are discussed. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS