Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 1, 2026
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Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
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Reactivation of interference during sleep does not impair ongoing memory consolidation
Mitja Seibold1, Björn Rasch2, Jan Born1,3
1a Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen , Tübingen , Germany.
Memory (Hove, England)
|May 25, 2017
Summary
Introducing interference during sleep did not impair memory consolidation. Instead, sleep-based odor cueing reduced memory intrusions, suggesting enhanced pattern separation and memory stabilization.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Memory consolidation during sleep is thought to involve memory reactivation, particularly during slow wave sleep (SWS).
- Reactivated memories may undergo a labile state, facilitating strengthening and integration into existing networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether introducing interference during sleep impairs the consolidation of recently learned memories.
- To test the hypothesis that cueing interfering memories during sleep would hinder memory consolidation.
Main Methods:
- Participants learned a visuo-spatial task before a 40-minute sleep period.
- During sleep, specifically SWS, participants were exposed to interfering stimuli via odor cueing versus a control condition.
Main Results:
- Contrary to the hypothesis, odor cueing during sleep did not impair memory recall compared to the control condition.
- Participants exposed to odor cueing during sleep showed significantly fewer intrusions from the interference during recall.
Conclusions:
- Interference presented during sleep does not disrupt endogenous memory consolidation processes.
- Sleep-based interference may potentially enhance pattern separation and memory stabilization through generalization.
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