Procedural Memory Reconsolidation Following Multiple Reminders

Long-term reactivated memories undergo a time-dependent reconsolidation process during which they are susceptible to modulation. We report the results of an experiment examining the effect of multiple reminder treatments on reconsolidation of a long-term memory. Participants were trained on a procedural finger tapping task and were either reminded of that training 5 days later or not, immediately prior to learning a new tapping sequence. An additional group was given a reminder treatment of original learning on each of the interim days. Contrary to our hypothesis, results indicate that multiple reminder treatments rendered the training memory significantly more susceptible to disruption in comparison to controls that did not receive any reminders of original learning prior to learning the new motor sequence.