Topic summary
Memory reconsolidation
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Memory consolidation.
Reconsolidation
Memory reconsolidation highlights the dynamic nature of memory, suggesting that recalling previously consolidated memories can make them temporally unstable thus open to modification. It is a distinct process that allows existing memories to be maintained, strengthened and updated over time, as they must be re-stabilized to persist.. Reconsolidation is considered different from initial consolidation, despite its overlap in function (e.g. storage) and its mechanisms (e.g. protein synthesis). While widely supported, reconsolidation is an area of ongoing research and debate regarding mechanisms and functional significance. Furthermore, studies have shown that when reconsolidation is disrupted, memory expression can be altered, particularly in fear-related learning paradigms.