Consolidated memories can be reactivated into a labile state by the presentation of a reminder. The reactivation of the memory trace is followed by a process of re-stabilization known as reconsolidation. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the reconsolidation process could be the tool to update memories in strength and content. This unique role opens new venues for therapeutic applications targeting dysfunctional memories.
The reconsolidation process, its functionality and its limiting conditions have been widely studied at a behavioural and pharmacological level, but little is known about whether this process could occur in an online experiment performance, and which measures would be relevant.
Here we aim to design a protocol targeting memory reactivation and the following re-stabilization stage to assess and characterize the dynamics of the process of an aversive and a neutral memory in humans. Subjects will be trained with face-name pairs and 24hs different groups will be compared, modifying the structure on Day 2. Thus, a cue-reminder (first syllable present) and a context-reminder (first syllable absent). The presence or not of specific instruction that the experiment cannot be completed (no mismatch), and different valence of the face expression stimuli for the reminder. On Day 3, memory retention in going to be assessed. We suggest that there are several boundary conditions for the reconsolidation process to occur. In particular, concerning the structure of th