Promoting memory consolidation during sleep: A meta-analysis of targeted memory reactivation
Open accessAbstract
Targeted memory reactivation (TMR) is a methodology employed to manipulate memory processing during sleep. TMR studies have great potential to advance understanding of sleep-based memory consolidation and corresponding neural mechanisms. Research making use of TMR has developed rapidly, with over 70 articles published in the last decade, yet no quantitative analysis exists to evaluate the overall effects. Here we present the first meta-analysis of sleep TMR, compiled from 91 experiments with 212 effect sizes (N = 2,004). Based on multilevel modeling, overall sleep TMR was highly effective (Hedges' g = 0.29, 95% CI [0.21, 0.38]), with a significant effect for two stages of non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep (Stage NREM 2: Hedges' g = 0.32, 95% CI [0.04, 0.60]; and slow-wave sleep: Hedges' g = 0.27, 95% CI [0.20, 0.35]). In contrast, TMR was not effective during REM sleep nor during wakefulness in the present analyses. Several analysis strategies were used to address the potential relevance of publication bias. Additional analyses showed that TMR improved memory across multiple domains, including declarative memory and skill acquisition. Given that TMR can reinforce many types of memory, it could be useful for various educational and clinical applications. Overall, the present meta-analysis provides substantial support for the notion that TMR can influence memory storage during NREM sleep, and that this method can be useful for understanding neurocognitive mechanisms of memory consolidation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Memory reactivation via cues during sleep enhances consolidation.
“Memory reactivation via cues during sleep enhances consolidation [21], implicating sleep as a period when memories remain receptive to modification.”
From Sleep and memory consolidation in healthy, neurotypical children, and adults: a summary of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. (2023) · cites this paper as [21]
Memory reactivation via cues during sleep enhances consolidation, suggesting a receptive state for memory modification during this period.
“Memory reactivation via cues during sleep has been shown to enhance consolidation, suggesting a receptive state for memory modification during this period [21].”
From Sleep and memory consolidation in healthy, neurotypical children, and adults: a summary of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. (2023) · cites this paper as [21]
Socioeconomic status and pre-sleep media consumption are additional variables influencing the quality of sleep and subsequent memory performance.
“Socioeconomic status and pre-sleep media consumption are additional variables influencing the quality of sleep and subsequent memory performance [21].”
From Sleep and memory consolidation in healthy, neurotypical children, and adults: a summary of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. (2023) · cites this paper as [21]
The ‘Spontaneous and Targeted Memory Reactivation During Sleep’ section discusses sleep and memory consolidation, but does not address socioeconomic status or pre-sleep media consumption. Searches for those terms and for screen exposure before bedtime found no passage linking either variable to sleep quality or subsequent memory performance; the cited paper’s focus is targeted memory reactivation. (LLM, conf=0.74)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredTargeted memory reactivation has successfully utilized auditory or olfactory cues during sleep to improve later memory retention in humans.
“Targeted memory reactivation has successfully utilized auditory or olfactory cues during sleep to improve later memory retention in humans.16”
From Random auditory stimulation during sleep disturbs traveling slow waves and declarative memory (2026) · cites this paper as [16]
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References 157 · Cited by 232
Research works printed but not linked: 11
- * Antony JW (2015). Mechanisms of memory reactivation during sleep. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.
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- Paller KA, Mayes AR, Antony JW, & Norman KA (in press). Replay-based consolidation governs enduring memory storage In The Cognitive Neurosciences, 6th Edition (pp. 265– 276), Gazzaniga MS, Mangun GR, & Poeppel D (Eds.), MIT Press.
- Schreiner T, & Rasch B (2015b). Cueing vocabulary in awake subjects during the day has no effect on memory. Somnologie-Schlafforschung und Schlafmedizin 19(2), 133– 140.
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- Authors
- Hu, X., Cheng, L. Y., Chiu, M. H., & Paller, K. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Northwestern University (US)
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 2020-03
- Volume
- 146
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 218-244
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- PMC
- PMC7144680
- OpenAlex
- W3004437557
- Semantic Scholar
- e09e67cffbea7be63d2c494490ca0347b0330275
- Cited by
- 232
- References
- 157
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 3.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (31700953)
- Early Career Schema (27610617)
- Hong Kong Research Grants Council (17601318)
- National Science Foundation (BCS-1461088; BCS-1829414)
- National Institutes of Health (R01-NS112942)
- Mind Science Foundation
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- targeted memory reactivation, memory consolidation, sleep, NREM sleep, slow-wave sleep, REM sleep, declarative memory, skill acquisition
- MeSH terms
- Memory Consolidation, Humans, Reinforcement, Psychology, Sleep Stages
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