Positive emotional induction interferes with the reconsolidation of autobiographical memories.

Huerta Grande

Congreso; XXVIIII Congreso de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias; 2014

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias

Memory traces can become labile upon retrieval and must be re-stabilized. The disruption of this reconsolidation process can abolish a consolidated memory. In a previous study, we showed that a positive induction post- retrieval of an aversive autobiographical memory impaired the original trace, suggesting potential reconsolidation interference. The aim of the present study was to characterize the reconsolidation interference in our paradigm. To address this goal, healthy participants (18 to 35 years old; 20 women) were divided into two control group. The first group (ANGRY/6h/POSITIVE) was tested on 3 consecutive days: Day 1, autobiographical memories were reactivated by means of the autobiographical memory cueing test. Participants were presented a negative adjective (angry). After 6 hours (outside the reconsolidation window), the interference images (IAPS- positive) was presented. On day 2, (7 days after day 1), memories were again retrieved. Day 3: (30 days after day 2), an additional test was performed as on day 2. The second group (ANGRY/NO-INTERFERENCE) was identical to the first group except that participants did not receive any interference. Results: Compared with the group that received the positive interference within the reconsolidation window, the content of the amount of details in the control groups did not change during successive retrievals. Here we provide evidence that an aversive memory can be updated with positive information provided during the reconsolidation window.