Declarative memory consolidation in humans: A prospective functional magnetic resonance imaging study

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0507774103
• Publication Date: 2006-01-07T01:49:23Z
• Authors: A. Takashima; K. M. Petersson; F. Rutters; I. Tendolkar; O. Jensen; M. J. Zwarts; B. L. McNaughton; G. Fernández
• Keywords: Nap; Consolidation; Declarative memory

Retrieval of recently acquired declarative memories depends on the hippocampus, but with time, retrieval is increasingly sustainable by neocortical representations alone. This process has been conceptualized as system-level consolidation. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we assessed over course three months how consolidation affects neural correlates memory retrieval. The duration slow-wave sleep during a nap/rest period after initial study session and before first scan day 1 correlated positively recognition performance for items studied nap negatively hippocampal activity associated correct confident recognition. Over entire study, continued to decrease, whereas in ventral medial prefrontal region increased. These findings, together data obtained rodents, may prompt revision classical theory, incorporating transfer putative linking nodes from prelimbic areas.