Sleep selectively stabilizes contextual aspects of negative memories

Cox, R.; Van Bronkhorst, M. L.; Bayda, M.; Gomillion, H.; Cho, E.; Parr, E.; Manickas-Hill, O. P.; Schapiro, A. C.; Stickgold, R.

doi:10.1101/370965

bioRxiv · 10.1101/370965

Sleep selectively stabilizes contextual aspects of negative memories

Cox, R.·Van Bronkhorst, M. L.·Bayda, M.·Gomillion, H.·Cho, E.·Parr, E.·Manickas-Hill, O. P.·Schapiro, A. C.·Stickgold, R.

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Abstract

Sleep and emotion are both powerful modulators of the long-term stability of episodic memories, but precisely how these factors interact remains unresolved. We assessed changes in item recognition, contextual memory, and affective tone for negative and neutral memories across a 12 h interval containing sleep or wakefulness in 71 human volunteers. Our data indicate a sleep-dependent stabilization of negative contextual memories, in a way not seen for neutral memories, item recognition, or across wakefulness. Furthermore, retention of contextual memories was positively associated with time spent in non-rapid eye movement sleep. Finally, our results offer partial support for the hypothesis that sleep attenuates emotional responses to previously memorized material.

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Cox, R., Van Bronkhorst, M. L., Bayda, M., Gomillion, H., Cho, E., Parr, E., Manickas-Hill, O. P., Schapiro, A. C., Stickgold, R.. 2018-07-17. Sleep selectively stabilizes contextual aspects of negative memories. https://doi.org/10.1101/370965

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