Memory reconsolidation is the process by which a previously consolidated memory is destabilized and then restabilized after being retrieved from long-term storage. This process is thought to occur when a memory is reactivated and then modified in some way.
There are several steps involved in the process of memory reconsolidation:
1. Activation: The first step in memory reconsolidation is to reactivate the memory by recalling it from long-term storage. This can be done through various methods, such as verbalization, imagery, or physical actions related to the memory.
2. Disruption: After the memory has been reactivated, it becomes temporarily destabilized and susceptible to modification. This is thought to occur because the memory trace is re-expressed in the brain, allowing for the possibility of new information to be incorporated into the memory.
3. Modification: During this step, new information is introduced that changes the way the memory is represented in the brain. This can involve adding, deleting, or altering details of the memory.
4. Restabilization: Finally, the modified memory is restabilized through the process of consolidation, which involves the strengthening of connections between neurons in the brain.
To learn about the steps for memory reconsolidation in greater detail, click here.
