Boosting The Intervention Effect of Negative Memory Through tACS Stimulation

The objectives of this study include: 1) investigating the impact of negative memory substitution on an individual's other intellectual memories (i.e., neutral memories) and the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms; 2) investigating the memory enhancement effect resulting from retrieval practice associated with memory substitution intervention along with an examination of the neurocognitive mechanisms responsible for this enhancement.

This study will adopt two memory updating strategies: retrieval practice and reactivation. A 5-day memory updating experimental paradigm is used. 1. On the first day, the old memory A-B linkage is learned, where A represents a neutral word and B is either neutral or negative pictures (half of each, randomly scrambled). 2. On the second day, the old memory A-B association is consolidated again, and after a 15-minute break, the new memory A-C association is learned, where A is still the word A used in the old memory A-B association on the first day, and C is the new neutral and negative pictures (half of each, randomly scrambled, and with inconsistent categories of C and B in each pair of AC and AB). Immediately following this, the new memories of the A-C conjunctions are updated using both Retrieval practice and Restudy (control condition) memory strategies. 3. A-C is extracted/learned using both Retrieval practice and Restudy memory strategies on both day 3 and day 4. 4. On the fifth day, memory tests for associative memory strength, gist and detail memory, as well as emotional valence and strength are performed.