Negative transfer abolished by REM sleep deprivation in rats

Brief deprivation of REM sleep (REMD) immediately following inhibitory avoidance training abolished negative transfer in an active avoidance situation without impairing retention of the inhibitory avoidance response. REMD beginning 3 hr after inhibitory training had no effect. A reminder treatment (brief placement in the apparatus) between 30 min and 24 hr before active avoidance training counteracted the REMD impairment of negative transfer. The reminder treatment was not impaired by subsequent REMD.