Cited by 133Memory and Neural MechanismsMemory Processes and InfluencesSleep and Wakefulness Research

Memory consolidation as an adaptive process

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Cowan, Emily T., Schapiro, Anna C., Dunsmoor, Joseph E., Murty, Vishnu P.·2021·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

Abstract

We rely on our long-term memories to guide future behaviors, making it adaptive to prioritize the retention of goal-relevant, salient information in memory. In this review, we discuss findings from rodent and human research to demonstrate that active processes during post-encoding consolidation support the selective stabilization of recent experience into adaptive, long-term memories. Building upon literatures focused on dynamics at the cellular level, we highlight that consolidation also transforms memories at the systems level to support future goal-relevant behavior, resulting in more generalized memory traces in the brain and behavior. We synthesize previous literatures spanning animal research, human cognitive neuroscience, and cognitive psychology to propose an integrative framework for adaptive consolidation by which goal-relevant memoranda are "tagged" for subsequent consolidation, resulting in selective transformations to the structure of memories that support flexible, goal-relevant behaviors.

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Crossref · 10.3758/s13423-021-01978-x

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Authors
Cowan, E. T., Schapiro, A. C., Dunsmoor, J. E., & Murty, V. P.
Affiliations
  • Temple University (US)
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Corresponding author
Murty, Vishnu P.
Venue
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
Published
2021-07-29
Volume
28
Issue
6
Pages
1796-1810
ISSN
  • 1069-9384 (ISSN-L)
  • 1531-5320
OpenAlex
W3184949359
Cited by
133
References
184
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 4
FWCI
3.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychonomic Bulletin & Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Drug Abuse (R21DA043568)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
Keywords
memory consolidation, adaptive memory, memory stabilization, memory tagging, memory generalization, behavioral flexibility, long-term memory, rodent models
MeSH terms
Memory Consolidation, Cognitive Psychology, Animals, Brain, Motivation, Memory, Long-Term

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