Abstract:
In recent years there has been growing interest in relating schema memory to slow wave sleep
(SWS). However, theoretically, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep seems to play an important role
in processing emotional schema memories. REM sleep has been identified as being closely
associated with emotional memory. During REM sleep, an optimal environment for associative
memory processing is created, as concurrent increased activation of the medial prefrontal cortex
(mPFC) has been frequently observed. Theta oscillations during REM sleep might allow interaction
between distinct brain networks. Furthermore, elevated acetylcholine levels contribute to improved
memory consolidation. Until now, the role of REM sleep in emotional schema memory has not been
investigated. This paper shows that, in the current sample, the amount of REM sleep, negative mood,
and frontal theta oscillatory activity during REM sleep did not have a significant relationship with
the amount of falsely recognized negative lures. However, REM density was significantly correlated
with depressive scores and falsely recognized lures, suggesting an offline mechanism in emotional
schema memory processing. These results demonstrate how REM density, compared to other
parameters, might be involved in creating an optimal environment favoring emotional schema
processing. This study is the first to demonstrate this kind of relationship in connection with schema
memory, which is why these results are challenging to interpret. One possible explanation could be
that rapid eye movements form an offline mechanism in reorganizing emotional schema memories.
More research with bigger sample sizes is needed to confirm these results and contribute to this
interpretation.
