The effect of fasting on human memory consolidation
Xuefeng Yang1, Xiu Miao1, Franziska Schweiggart2
1Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Graduate School of Neural & Behavioural Science, International Max Planck Research School, Tübingen, Germany.
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
|February 12, 2025
Summary
Fasting enhances certain memory types like word recall but impairs episodic context memory recall in humans. Procedural memory remains unaffected, suggesting a selective impact of hunger on memory consolidation processes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Memory consolidation is crucial for long-term recall.
- Sleep is considered essential for memory consolidation.
- Emerging evidence suggests other brain states, like hunger, may also influence memory consolidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of fasting on declarative and procedural memory consolidation in humans.
- To compare memory recall performance under fasting versus satiated conditions after a post-encoding consolidation period.
Main Methods:
- Two within-subjects crossover experiments were conducted with healthy men.
- Participants underwent fasting or satiated conditions during a 10-hour post-encoding period.
- Memory recall for word paired associates, episodic context (Deese-Roediger-McDermott, What-Where-When tasks), and procedural memory (finger tapping) was assessed.
Main Results:
- Fasting significantly enhanced cued recall of word paired associates and item recognition.
- Fasting impaired recall of episodic context memory, including spatial and temporal-spatial details.
- Procedural memory consolidation remained unaffected by fasting conditions.
Conclusions:
- Fasting differentially affects memory consolidation, promoting semantic-like cortical representations while weakening hippocampal episodic context representations.
- Hunger may strengthen cortical memory consolidation by reducing hippocampal interference during wakefulness.
- The precise neurobiological mechanisms underlying these effects require further investigation.
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