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Sleep-dependent reductions in reality-monitoring errors arise from more conservative decision criteria.
Carmen E Westerberg1, Christopher A Hawkins1, Lauren Rendon1
1Psychology Department, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas 78666, USA.
Learning & Memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)
|January 18, 2018
Summary
An afternoon nap, through sleep-dependent memory consolidation, can reduce reality-monitoring errors. Sleep influences decision-making processes, making individuals more cautious in recalling memories.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Research
Background:
- Reality-monitoring errors involve misattributing internal thoughts as external events.
- Sleep is known to play a role in memory consolidation and cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if sleep-dependent memory consolidation during an afternoon nap can reduce reality-monitoring errors.
- To explore the mechanisms by which sleep might impact these errors.
Main Methods:
- Participants viewed words, some with associated pictures, and imagined referents.
- A 2-hour break followed, involving either sleep (nap group) or wakefulness (wake group).
- Participants then performed a task to assess reality-monitoring errors.
Main Results:
- The nap group exhibited fewer reality-monitoring errors compared to the wake group.
- This reduction was associated with the adoption of more stringent response criteria in the nap group.
- Findings suggest sleep influences post-retrieval decision processes.
Conclusions:
- Sleep-dependent memory consolidation, facilitated by napping, can mitigate reality-monitoring errors.
- Sleep appears to impact memory recall by altering decision-making thresholds rather than the accuracy of memory traces themselves.
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