Increase in slow frequency and decrease in alpha and beta power during post-learning rest predict long-term memory success.

Abstract

Formation of episodic memories is linked to cortico-hippocampal interactions during learning, practice, and post-learning rest, although the role of cortical activity itself in such processes remains elusive. Behaviorally, long-term retention of episodic memories has been shown to be aided by several different practice strategies involving memory reencounters, such as repeated retrieval and repeated study. In a two-session resting state electroencephalography (EEG) experiment, using data from 68 participants, we investigated the electrophysiological predictors of long-term memory success in situations where such reencounters occurred after learning. Participants learned word pairs which were subsequently practiced either by cued recall or repeated studying in a between-subjects design. Participants' cortical activity was recorded before learning (baseline) and after practice during 15-min resting periods. Long-term memory retention after a 7-day period was measured. To assess cortical activity, we analyzed the change in spectral power from the pre-learning baseline to the post-practice resting state recordings. From baseline to post-practice, changes in alpha and beta power were negatively, while slow frequency power change was positively associated with long-term memory performance, regardless of practice strategy. These results are in line with previous observations pointing to the role of specific frequency bands in memory formation and extend them to situations where memory reencounters occur after learning. Our results also highlight that the effectiveness of practice by repeated testing seems to be independent from the beneficial neural mechanisms mirrored by EEG frequency power changes.