Effect of paradoxical sleep deprivation and stress on passive avoidance behavior.
Previous studies have shown that several types of stress can induce memory impairment. However, the memory effects of paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD), a stressor in itself, are unclear. We therefore compared passive avoidance behavior of rats undergoing PSD and PSD stress yoked-control (PSC) using the "reversed flowerpot method." When rats were kept isolated on a PSC platform for 24 h immediately after criterion training, retention trials showed impaired aversive memory storage. When delayed for 24 h after criterion training, PSC stress did not disrupt retention performance. In rats subjected to PSD, either immediately or 24 h after criterion training, there was no disruption of aversive memory consolidation. These results suggest that, during stress, paradoxical sleep plays a role in erasing aversive memory traces, in line with the theory that we "dream in order to forget."
Wang
Jian Hong
JH
Section of Cognitive Brain Research, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, PR China. wjh16@hotmail.com
van den Buuse
Maarten
M
Tian
Shao Wen
SW
Ma
Yuan Ye
YY
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*