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Procedural Memory Reconsolidation Following Multiple Reminders
Robert W Flint1, Justin Morehouse1, Aeron E Chown2
1Life Sciences Department, Psychology Program, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, USA.
Psychological Reports
|March 25, 2026
Summary
Multiple reminder treatments before learning a new task unexpectedly increased susceptibility to memory disruption. This suggests repeated memory reactivation may weaken long-term memory traces, contrary to expectations.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Memory Research
- Learning and Memory
Background:
- Long-term memories are modulated during reconsolidation when reactivated.
- Reconsolidation makes memories temporarily unstable and open to modification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of multiple reminder treatments on long-term memory reconsolidation.
- To determine if repeated reactivation enhances or disrupts memory stability.
Main Methods:
- Participants learned a procedural finger tapping task.
- One group received a single reminder 5 days later.
- Another group received daily reminders of original learning.
- A control group received no reminders before learning a new sequence.
Main Results:
- Multiple reminder treatments significantly increased memory disruption.
- Contrary to hypothesis, repeated reactivation did not strengthen memory.
- The memory trace became more vulnerable to interference with multiple reminders.
Conclusions:
- Repeatedly reactivating a long-term memory may paradoxically increase its susceptibility to disruption.
- The findings challenge assumptions about memory reconsolidation and suggest a potential mechanism for memory weakening.
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