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Running head: ARTICLE SUMMARY

Role of Sleep and Sleep Deprivation in Consolidating Fear Memories: Article Summary
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ARTICLE SUMMARY

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Introduction

In the article Role of Sleep and Sleep Deprivation in Consolidating Fear Memories, the
authors explore the effect of sleep, with particular emphasis on Rapid Eye Movement (REM)
sleep, on emotional memories. REM has been defined as the kind of sleep that occurs during the
final stages of human nocturnal sleep and is largely linked to the enhancement of significant
emotional recall. According to this study, experiences that are emotionally arousing trigger the
activation of plentiful hormonal and neurotransmitters than their less emotionally appealing
counterparts. Basolateral Complex of amygdala had also been defined as a combination of
response hormones that are frequently associated with the consolidating and regulating these
modulatory memory responses. The authors observe that even long-term memories can also be
influenced by an interplay these hormones and neurotransmitters that are ordinarily linked to the
enhancement or reduction of memories of short-term memories.
Several studies exist suggesting that amygdala modulates memory consolidation in
rodents and test animals, yet no such studies, hitherto, have been conducted on human beings. In
such experiments, intensive stressful and traumatic situations were determined to make up the
unpleasant memories, otherwise known as fear memories. The memories are then easily retrieved
when such traumatic experiences reoccur or conditioned cues attributed with them appeared.
Sleep has an effect of enhancing consolidating memory and improving recall. REM sleep in the
test rodents supported the successful recollection of conditioned fear responses by triggering
theta synchrony of amygdala and associated memory organs.
Research Methodology
This investigation follows a quantitative research design whereby individuals were
subjected to Pavlovian conditioning with respect to fear conditioning following fear learning.

ARTICLE SUMMARY

Memory performance was measured using specific shock expectancy rating, skin conductance
and functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI. Participants included forty qualified male
volunteers. Individual participants were expected to be healthy, have normal vision, must not
have a medical history of the psychiatric or mental defect, must have passed standard daytime
sleepiness test, reported normal sleep-wake cycle, showed no depression symptoms, and
exhibited normal anxiety traits. The individuals who did not meet the above inclusion
requirements were excluded from the experiment.
The study randomly assigned the participants to two variable groups; the experimental
and control groups. The sleep group spend a significant part of the night following conditioning
asleep, while the wake group stayed awake for half the night. On the first day of the
experiment, all participants performed a fear conditioning paradigm followed by a night of sleep
intervention. In later experiments, members of the control group were often allowed to continue
with their usual daily activities after conditioning while their experimental counterparts were
made to sleep almost immediately. These subjects were then tested for alertness and recall,
following conditioning using special equipment and methods mentioned above.
The data collected from this investigation were then taken through rigorous metaanalyses such as group averaging, parametric testing via Matlab and R-studio statistical software,
similarity and difference index using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, regression and correlation
analyses. A directed hypothesis of whether sleep and sleep deprivation played an influencing role
in consolidating fear memories was used to guide the investigation. Response magnitude trials
and log transformation were performed on the synthesized experimental outcomes to normalize
the result. The information was further smoothened using moving averages analyses.

ARTICLE SUMMARY

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Results

Effects of Sleep on Anxiety and Shock Expectancy


The results of the study clearly revealed significant conditioning effects. In particular
CS+ stimuli, the conditioning enhancer, scored higher than CS-, the conditioning reducer, in the
experimental group. Anxiety ratings did not, however, reveal any notable difference between the
two groups, though expectancy to receive shock was significantly increased in both groups
Effect on skin conductance response
This test revealed significant conditioning on skin conductance. The stimuli were again
determined to be higher in the sleep group than in their control counterparts. Most notably, the
difference in skin conductance response showed a positive linear correlation with the time spent
in REM sleep.
Neutral correlates to successful recall
Studies into the brain activities of the participants revealed prominent activity on the left
basolateral amygdala during the recall. Hormonal activation indices were higher in the
experimental group than in the control group.
Sleep and Vigilance control
The study further determines that the sleep group were more alert and vigilant as
compared to the wake group. After a night of recovery, both groups score equally on alertness
and vigilance
Discussion
The study established that comfortable sleep after learning of fear memories enhances
recall of fearful memories. REM sleep thus influences consolidation of horrible memories. This
explicit knowledge was derived from the shock expectancy ratings and skin conductance

ARTICLE SUMMARY

readings, which revealed positive correlations. Strategic measures such as Using Pavlov
Paradigm study emotional conditioning, the introduction of recovery nights, and randomization
of selection process were all employed to ensure that the results were valid, reliable and accurate.

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