Sleep directly following learning benefits consolidation of spatial associative memory
Open accessAbstract
The last decade has brought forth convincing evidence for a role of sleep in non-declarative memory. A similar function of sleep in episodic memory is supported by various correlational studies, but direct evidence is limited. Here we show that cued recall of face–location associations is significantly higher following a 12-h retention interval containing sleep than following an equally long period of waking. Furthermore, retention is significantly higher over a 24-h sleep–wake interval than over an equally long wake–sleep interval. This difference occurs because retention during sleep was significantly better when sleep followed learning directly, rather than after a day of waking. These data demonstrate a beneficial effect of sleep on memory that cannot be explained solely as a consequence of reduced interference. Rather, our findings suggest a competitive consolidation process, in which the fate of a memory depends, at least in part, on its relative stability at sleep onset: Strong memories tend to be preserved, while weaker memories erode still further. An important aspect of memory consolidation may thus result from the removal of irrelevant memory “debris.”
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Other studies revealed greater benefits from sleep for strongly encoded memories or only in well-performing subjects.
“On the other hand, other studies revealed greater benefits from sleep for strongly encoded memories (523, 1172) or only in well-performing subjects (1038, 1215).”
From About Sleep's Role in Memory (2013) · cites this paper as [1172]
The Results report better recall when learning was followed by sleep, and the discussion suggests that stronger memory traces may be better preserved. But the paper does not report that sleep benefits occurred only in well-performing subjects; that restriction concerns participants rather than the strength of individual memories. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredA time dependency of the effects of sleep on memory formation is indicated by studies showing stronger effects for sleep occurring shortly after learning than for sleep at a later time.
“A time dependency of the effects of sleep on memory formation is indicated by studies showing stronger effects for sleep occurring shortly after learning than for sleep at a later time (80,343,431,899,1172).”
From About Sleep's Role in Memory (2013) · cites this paper as [1172]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Talamini, L. M., Nieuwenhuis, I. L. C., Takashima, A., & Jensen, O.
- Affiliations
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Venue
- Learning & Memory
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Published
- 2008-04
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 233-237
- ISSN
- 1072-0502 (ISSN-L)
- 1549-5485
- OpenAlex
- W2170263176
- Cited by
- 151
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 9
- Type
- posted content
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Learning & Memory (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (451-06-006)
- 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
- sleep-dependent memory consolidation, episodic memory, memory retention, memory interference, memory stability, memory competition
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Association, Female, Humans, Learning, Male, Memory, Sleep, Space Perception, Wakefulness
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