Abstract
Introduction: Consolidated memory can return to a labile state after being reactivated or retrieved. Under this state, it has been shown that the reactivated memory can be interfered by new learning. In the present study, we investigated the influence of memory reactivation on reward learning and attentional selection of reward-associated features. Experiment 1: Two groups of subjects (24 in each group) learned reward-color associations with a visual search task (Anderson, Laurent, & Yantis, 2011). After the learning, the first group demonstrated a typical attentional capture effect driven by reward salience in a test. The second group, who learned a new reward-color association before the test, demonstrated a reduced capture effect for the originally learned high reward color, indicating a retroactive inhibition caused by the new learning. Experiment 2: A group of 24 subjects completed the same procedure as the second group in Experiment 1, except that the originally learned reward-color associations were reactivated before new learning. The results showed that reactivation of the original learning prevented it from the retroactive inhibition from new learning. Experiment 3: A group of 24 subjects completed the same procedure as in Experiment 2, except that there was a six-hour interval between reactivation and new learning, ensuring the reactivated memory to be reconsolidated. The results showed that new learning again induced retroactive inhibition to the original learning after the reconsolidation, arguing against the possible practice effect during reactivation in Experiment 2. Conclusion: We propose that retroactive inhibition occurred because new memory competed with the consolidated original memory. However, with memory reactivation, novel experience under a similar context is learned by integrating it with the original memory in labile state, rather than forming a competitive trace. These effects of reactivation and reconsolidation have significant influence on the selective attention of reward-associated features.
Acknowledgement: National Natural Science Foundation of China (31470974) and National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFB1002503)