Plasticity of Food-related Memories During Reconsolidation

Xiaohan Lyu ； Dan Ouyang ； Jingwen Chen ； Yuqiao Zhu

《International Journal of Social Science and Education Research》 4卷4期 (2021/04) Pp. 19-26

https://doi.org/10.6918/IJOSSER.202104_4(4).0005

摘要

Reconsolidation serves to update and reenforce memories first by reactivation, then followed by retrieval re-stabilization. According to recent discoveries, it is possible to significantly erase maladaptive memories to treat mental disorders through disruption of reconsolidation. As food aversion is becoming a common issue around the world, this study aims to illustrate whether similar process - interfering food-related memories during reconsolidation window - could modify participants' opinions on their aversive food types. In this experiment, a total of 38 participants (n=38) were randomly assigned into experimental group, available for retrieval, and control group without any retrieval, and tested whether their disliked level to their aversive foods (previously identified in questionnaires) altered after watching a short video clip (interference). Greater reduction in disliked rating was observed in experimental group, which suggested that reactivation of memories prior to exposure of interference could weaken consolidated memory. The effect of the initial level of rating and previous exposure experience on the degree of modification was also discussed.

關鍵字

Fear memory ； Reconsolidation window ； Memory retrieval ； Food aversion

參考文獻

Milton, A.L., and B.J. Everitt. (2010). The psychological and neurochemical mechanisms of drug memory reconsolidation: implications for the treatment of addiction. European Journal of Neuroscience. 31(12): 2308-19.

Kerswell, N.L., Strodl, E., Hawkins, D. et al. (2020). Memory Reconsolidation Therapy for Police Officers with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. J Police Crim Psych.

Exton-McGuinness, M.T.J., and A.L. Milton. (2018). Reconsolidation blockade for the treatment of addiction: challenges, new targets, and opportunities. Learning Memory. 25(9): 492–500.

Lonergan, M.,D. Saumier, J. Tremblay, B. Kieffer, T.G. Brown, and A. Brunet. (2016). Reactivating addiction-related memories under propranolol to reduce craving: a pilot randomized controlled trial. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 50: 245-9.

Alaghband, Y, and J.F. Marshall. (2013). Common influences of non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists on the consolidation and reconsolidation of cocaine-cue memory. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 226(4):707-19.