Prior knowledge is essential for the beneficial effect of targeted memory reactivation during sleep

Sabine Groch; Thomas Schreiner; Björn Rasch; Reto Huber; Ines Wilhelm

doi:10.1038/srep39763

Prior knowledge is essential for the beneficial effect of targeted memory reactivation during sleep

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 4:7:39763. doi: 10.1038/srep39763.

Authors

Sabine Groch¹, Thomas Schreiner^{2

3}, Björn Rasch³, Reto Huber^{1

4}, Ines Wilhelm^{1

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ University Children's Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
² Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
⁶ Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, Switzerland.

Abstract

Prior knowledge speeds up system consolidation and accelerates integration of newly acquired memories into existing neocortical knowledge networks. By using targeted memory reactivations, we demonstrate that prior knowledge is also essential for successful reactivation and consolidation of memories during sleep, both on the behavioral and oscillatory level (i.e., theta and fast spindle activity). Thus, prior knowledge is a prerequisite for new memories to enter processes of system consolidation during sleep.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Brain / physiology*
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans
Knowledge*
Learning*
Male
Memory / physiology*
Memory Consolidation
Neuropsychological Tests
Sleep / physiology*
Wakefulness / physiology*
Young Adult