Can studying on drugs impair pre-existing memories (because of re-remembering)?

[rnd.id.]

Hi,

I remember reading about this theory that long-term-memory, when remembered, is not simply "read", but actually is erased and has to be re-encoded/re-consolidated. [1]

Now, if I study while on a drug, and the work I'm doing requires previously learned skills and facts, is it possible that these memories will be re-consolidated with errors (or at least in a state-dependent way, so that I won't be able to remember it well when sober)? Remember I'm talking about pre-existing memories, not the new things I'm learning.

Sometimes I like to study on drugs whose effects are not exactly great for one's cognitive abilities; but I don't want to have to worry about losing my memories


[1]
Without this premise the rest of the posting will be pointless, so I apologize if I misunderstood this...
Also, this article disputes the theory.

 

[IAmJacksUserName]

You don't re-encode memories every time you recall them, but you do reconstruct them. And I do suppose proactive interference could occur while studying when high, which would interfere with memories. However, it is also true that memories tend to be recalled when you're in a similar state to when you originally encoded them. So you'd be most likely to recall a drug-induced incorrect memory when you were actually high again.

Regardless, I doubt this would be a major issue, since you can always re-encode the memories correctly. The best way to figure this out would be to experiment a little.

 

[raybeez]

I read a fairly indepth article that seemed to support this notion in a print edition of a Newscientist maganzine. The jist of the article was that loss of memory vividness over time partially had to do with the need to re-encode long term memories that were being recalled. Each time the memory is re-encoded, certain details of it were lost in the process, leading to a progressive loss in quality of frequently recalled memories.

 

[BilZ0r]

I think studying on drugs is going to be worse for the memories you're trying to form, rather than the old ones... though I don't really know anything about memory.

 

[narrative0]

Reconsolidation of fear conditioning can be enhanced by intra-amygdala infusions of a protein kinase A activator. PKA is downstream of D1 and beta receptors, so one might expect some drugs to have the same effect on reconsolidation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/..._uids=16415868&query_hl=8&itool=pubmed_docsum

Reconsolidation of an odor-reward pairing was impaired by a systemic NMDA antagonist, as well:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/..._uids=15647596&query_hl=6&itool=pubmed_docsum

The previous two papers don't involve the episodic, hippocampus dependent type of memory you're probably interested in, but there is evidence for reconsolidation in the hippocampus:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...uids=12832561&query_hl=10&itool=pubmed_docsum

 

[rnd.id.]

Just wanted to thank everyone for answering
I can't really say more because I don't know enough about it...

Or maybe one thing :

The previous two papers don't involve the episodic, hippocampus dependent type of memory you're probably interested in, but there is evidence for reconsolidation in the hippocampus:

I'm speaking only from a quick google search, but wouldn't academic knowledge be mostly semantic rather than episodic memory? (Maybe semantic memory is more "stable"?)

 

[BilZ0r]

I don't think people who are really interested in the cellular mechanisms of memory are that interested in dividing memory up any further than declarative vs procedural memory anymore.