Abstract
A series of six experiments compared the characteristics of hypothermia-induced amnesia for newly acquired and old reactivated memories. Old memory, when reactivated by cue exposure, was disrupted by mild or deep hypothermia treatment, while new memory was impaired only by deep cooling. Mild hypothermia had no disruptive influence on either new or old memories. Old, but not new, learning showed recovery from amnesia in a test-retest procedure. The onset of amnesia was more rapid for an old reactivated memory than for a newly acquired memory. The susceptibility of memory to disruption decreased over time following original learning or cue reactivation, although this decrease was, if anything, more rapid following the cuing procedure. Recovery from amnesia could be induced by a recooling reminder treatment and was similar for both new and old memories. It was suggested that activity of, or access to, memory rather than age per se determines susceptibility to disruption. The process of memory reactivation appears somewhat more sensitive, rapid, and brief than the processes) of memory formation. However, that the underlying old memory remains stable over time was supported by the strong retention when specific implicit or explicit reactivation cues were available.
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Judge, M. E., Haraczkiewicz, E., & Quartermain, D. Qualitative differences in the induction of amnesia by protein synthesis inhibition following original training or a reactivation treatment. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, 1979.
Gordon, W. C. Mechanisms underlying cue-induced retention enhancement. In Memory mechanisms in animal behavior. Symposium presented at SUNY at Binghamton, June 1980.
Mactutus, C. F., Riccio, D. C, & Rogers, P. D. Memory reactivation with internal cues: Persistence over multiple treatments. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, New York, 1979.
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This research is based in part on a dissertation submitted by the first author in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the PhD at Kent State University. These studies were supported by NIMH Grant MH30223 to, and conducted in the laboratories of, David C. Riccio. We acknowledge the constructive criticisms of G. Killian, B. Foote, B. H. Newberry, T. J. Teyler, and F. R. Treichler in early versions of the manuscript. Thanks are also due J. S. Young for critical reading of later drafts.
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Mactutus, C.F., Ferek, J.M., George, C.A. et al. Hypothermia-induced amnesia for newly acquired and old reactivated memories: Commonalities and distinctions. Psychobiology 10, 79–95 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327011
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327011