title: Selective REM-sleep deprivation does not diminish emotional memory consolidation in young healthy subjects.
abstract: Sleep enhances memory consolidation and it has been hypothesized that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in particular facilitates the consolidation of emotional memory. The aim of this study was to investigate this hypothesis using selective REM-sleep deprivation. We used a recognition memory task in which participants were shown negative and neutral pictures. Participants (N=29 healthy medical students) were separated into two groups (undisturbed sleep and selective REM-sleep deprived). Both groups also worked on the memory task in a wake condition. Recognition accuracy was significantly better for negative than for neutral stimuli and better after the sleep than the wake condition. There was, however, no difference in the recognition accuracy (neutral and emotional) between the groups. In summary, our data suggest that REM-sleep deprivation was successful and that the resulting reduction of REM-sleep had no influence on memory consolidation whatsoever.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Christian-Albrechts University School of Medicine, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jarste
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morgenthaler
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Christian-Albrechts University School of Medicine, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Wiesner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Karoline
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hinze
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Lena C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Abels
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Christian-Albrechts University School of Medicine, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prehn-Kristensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Christian-Albrechts University School of Medicine, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Göder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012892:Sleep Deprivation; D012895:Sleep, REM; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult