Preventing interference between different memory tasks

Nat Neurosci. 2011 Jun 26;14(8):953-5. doi: 10.1038/nn.2840.

Abstract

When learned in quick succession, declarative and motor skill tasks interfere with one another and subsequent recall is impaired. Depending on the order of the tasks, we were able to prevent memory interference in humans by applying transcranial magnetic stimulation to either the dorsolateral prefrontal or the primary motor cortex, and neither memory was impaired. Our observations suggest that distinct mechanisms support the communication between different types of memory processing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory / classification
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Motor Cortex / physiology
  • Motor Skills / physiology
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Serial Learning / physiology*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods
  • Young Adult