Consolidation of long-term memory: Evidence and alternatives.

M. Meeter, J.M.J. Murre

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Memory loss in retrograde amnesia has long been held to be larger for recent periods than for remote periods, a pattern usually referred to as the Ribot gradient. One explanation for this gradient is consolidation of long-term memories. Several computational models of such a process have shown how consolidation can explain characteristics of amnesia, but they have not elucidated how consolidation must be envisaged. Here findings are reviewed that shed light on how consolidation may be implemented in the brain. Moreover, consolidation is contrasted with alternative theories of the Ribot gradient. Consolidation theory, multiple trace theory, and semantization can all handle some findings well but not others. Conclusive evidence for or against consolidation thus remains to be found.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)843-857
Number of pages15
JournalPsychological Bulletin
Volume130
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

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