Make short-term memories into long-term memories
- unconsolidated memories are vulnerable to interference and forgetting
- “New memories are clear but fragile and old ones are faded but robust.” (Wixted, 2004, p. 265)
- consolidation during sleep enhances long-term memory
- only a little bit of alcohol can inhibit learning
- reconsolidation
- reactivating and changing old memories
- useful to “update” memories