Modulation of memory reconsolidation by adjacent novel tasks: timing defines the nature of change

Reconsolidation turns memories into a responsive state that allows their modulation until they stabilize again. This phenomenon attracted remarkable attention due to its potential impact on therapeutics and education. Recent evidence revealed that different memories undergo reconsolidation via a behavioral tagging process. Thus, their re-stabilization involves setting reconsolidation-tags and synthesizing plasticity-related proteins for their capture at the tagged sites. Here, we studied the possibility of affecting these fundamental mechanisms to modulate reconsolidation. Our findings, in laboratory rats, indicate that exploring a novel environment 60 min before or after memory reactivation improves spatial object recognition memory by promoting protein synthesis. Conversely, experiencing novelty immediately after reactivation impairs the reconsolidation by affecting the tags. Similar effects, but with a different optimal time window for improvement, occur in inhibitory avoidance memory. These results highlight the possibility of modulating existing memories using non-invasive interventions that selectively affect the fundamental mechanisms of behavioral tagging during their reconsolidation. A study on rats shows how to modulate memories by associating their recall with non-invasive behavioral experiences: timing defines the nature of change acting on the key mechanisms of the behavioral tagging process underlying memory reconsolidation.

Automated summary

Reconsolidation is a process that turns memories into a responsive state until they stabilize again, and it has the potential impact on therapeutics and education. Recent research has shown that different memories undergo reconsolidation through a behavioral tagging process, with their re-stabilization involving setting reconsolidation-tags and synthesizing plasticity-related proteins. A study on laboratory rats revealed that exploring a novel environment 60 minutes before or after memory reactivation improves spatial object recognition memory by promoting protein synthesis, while experiencing novelty immediately after reactivation impairs the reconsolidation process by affecting the tags. Similar effects were observed in inhibitory avoidance memory, but with a different optimal time window for improvement. These findings suggest the possibility of modulating existing memories using non-invasive interventions that selectively affect the fundamental mechanisms of behavioral tagging during their reconsolidation.