Daydreaming Frequency as a Potential Modulator of TMR Effectiveness

Presenter: Chloe Temple

Group Members: Talia Goldvasser, Peter Raymond Bryan

Faculty Sponsor: Rebecca Spencer

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

Session: Poster Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM, 163, C19

ABSTRACT

Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR) is a technique in which sensory cues are associated with stimuli during learning and then presented during sleep with the goal of strengthening or weakening the associated memories. Although data suggests that TMR can be beneficial for the general population, the specific mechanisms that underlie the process and the role of individual differences are not well researched. It is assumed that TMR acts by inducing memory consolidation, a process that involves the reactivation of new memories in the hippocampus and the redistribution of said memories in the neocortex. The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a region of the brain involved in memory consolidation, containing both the hippocampus and neocortex. Individuals who daydream have been shown to have increased functional connectivity of the DMN. Because of this relationship, we hypothesize that individuals who daydream more frequently will demonstrate an increased effectiveness of TMR due to the increased connectivity of the DMN. To study this effect, we will use auditory cues and an object-location task, a reliable method for examining TMR’s effect on declarative memory. The study pairs images on a screen with an associated sound cue that is later replayed to the participant while in slow wave sleep. We will use the Daydreaming Frequency Subscale (DFS) to quantify daydreaming frequency and then compare those scores to TMR effectiveness on delayed memory retrieval. Demonstration of individual differences in TMR outcomes relative to daydreaming frequency will provide further insight into the understanding of how TMR works.

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