Cited by 68Sleep and Wakefulness ResearchMemory Processes and InfluencesMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Remembering specific features of emotional events across time: the role of REM sleep and prefrontal theta oscillations

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Sopp, Marie Roxanne, Michael, Tanja, Weeß, Hans-Günter, Mecklinger, Axel·2017·Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience

Abstract

When an episode of emotional significance is encountered, it often results in the formation of a highly resistant memory representation that is easily retrieved for many succeeding years. Recent research shows that beyond generic consolidation processes, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep importantly contributes to this effect. However, the boundary conditions of consolidation processes during REM sleep, specifically whether these extend to source memory, have not been examined extensively. The current study tested the effects of putative consolidation processes emerging during REM sleep and slow wave sleep (SWS) on item and source memory of negative and neutral images, respectively. Results demonstrate superior emotional relative to neutral item memory retention after both late night REM sleep and early night SWS. Emotional source memory, on the other hand, exhibited an attenuated decline following late night REM sleep, whereas neutral source memory was selectively preserved across early night SWS. This pattern of results suggests a selective preservation of emotional source memory during REM sleep that is functionally dissociable from SWS-dependent reprocessing of neutral source memory. This was further substantiated by a neurophysiological dissociation: Postsleep emotional source memory was selectively correlated with frontal theta lateralization (REM sleep), whereas postsleep neutral item memory was correlated with SWS spindle power. As such, the present results contribute to a more comprehensive characterization of sleep-related consolidation mechanisms underlying emotional and neutral memory retention. Subsidiary analysis of emotional reactivity to previously encoded material revealed an enhancing rather than attenuating effect of late night REM sleep on emotional responses.

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  • REM theta power correlated with enhanced retention of location memory for emotional images.

    “Sopp et al. (2017) showed that REM theta power correlated with enhanced retention of location memory for emotional images”

    From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Sopp et al., 2017

  • REM theta oscillations reflect the reactivation of emotional mnestic traces.

    “consistent with the idea that REM theta oscillations reflect the reactivation of emotional mnestic traces”

    From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Sopp et al., 2017

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  1. Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. (2001). The PHQ-9. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606-613.

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Authors
Sopp, M. R., Michael, T., Weeß, H.-G., & Mecklinger, A.
Affiliations
Saarland University (DE)
Corresponding author
Sopp, Marie Roxanne
Venue
Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
Published
2017-10-23
Volume
17
Issue
6
Pages
1186-1209
ISSN
  • 1530-7026 (ISSN-L)
  • 1531-135X
OpenAlex
W2766262803
Cited by
68
References
136
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 5
FWCI
3.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (IRTG 1457)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
REM sleep, slow-wave sleep, emotional memory consolidation, source memory, item memory, sleep spindles, emotional reactivity, memory retention, negative image
MeSH terms
Emotions, Female, Humans, Functional Laterality, Male, Memory, Neuropsychological Tests, Sleep, REM, Theta Rhythm, Prefrontal Cortex, Young Adult

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