Research Shows Instructions Outperform Emotions and Sleep in Enhancing Memory Retention

Recent scientific findings reveal that deliberate instructions to remember or forget can significantly influence how well we recall information, surpassing the effects of negative emotions or sleep. Traditionally, it has been understood that sleep, especially a good night's rest, plays a crucial role in consolidating new memories. Additionally, emotional associations like fear or stress can enhance memory recall. However, new research published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience indicates that active instructions to remember or forget are more effective than emotional cues in improving memory.

The study involved two experiments, one online with 45 participants and another in a lab with 53 participants. Participants were presented with words and given specific instructions to remember or forget them, with some words carrying negative emotional connotations. They were tested immediately and after a delay, which included sleep in the lab group where EEG headbands monitored brain activity during sleep.

Results showed that instructions to remember or forget had a more significant impact on recall than the emotional content of words. Although emotional words, particularly those with negative connotations, were remembered more frequently, instructions consistently enhanced recall accuracy. Moreover, emotional cues also increased false memories, as negative foils were more likely to be mistaken for target words.

During sleep, brain activity played a crucial role. Higher REM theta power and sleep spindles correlated with better recall of emotion-associated words, suggesting that specific sleep phases facilitate memory consolidation. Conversely, more slow wave sleep was linked to decreased recall, challenging the assumption that all sleep stages equally support memory.

These findings imply that our intentional focus and cognitive control over memories can be more influential than emotional salience or sleep. They also highlight the brain's selective process during sleep, where certain memories are prioritized or suppressed based on prior instructions and brain wave activity.

The research emphasizes the potential of using instructional cues to optimize memory, which could have implications for educational strategies and therapeutic interventions, especially in conditions involving memory distortions or emotional trauma.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-emotions-good-night-scientists.html