Differential Left Hippocampal Activation during Retrieval with Different Types of Reminders: An fMRI Study of the Reconsolidation Process

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 18;11(3):e0151381. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151381. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Consolidated memories return to a labile state after the presentation of cues (reminders) associated with acquisition, followed by a period of stabilization (reconsolidation). However not all cues are equally effective in initiating the process, unpredictable cues triggered it, predictable cues do not. We hypothesize that the different effects observed by the different reminder types on memory labilization-reconsolidation depend on a differential neural involvement during reminder presentation. To test it, we developed a declarative task and compared the efficacy of three reminder types in triggering the process in humans (Experiment 1). Finally, we compared the brain activation patterns between the different conditions using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (Experiment 2). We confirmed that the unpredictable reminder is the most effective in initiating the labilization-reconsolidation process. Furthermore, only under this condition there was differential left hippocampal activation during its presentation. We suggest that the left hippocampus is detecting the incongruence between actual and past events and allows the memory to be updated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Association Learning / physiology
  • Cues
  • Female
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Mental Recall / physiology
  • Nontherapeutic Human Experimentation
  • Reminder Systems
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (http://www.agencia.mincyt.gob.ar/) PICT2010-0391 and PICT2013-0412 (MEP). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.