Music perception after reactivating emotional memories can modulate their recall through reconsolidation

Music-based interventions (MBI), defined as standardized protocols using music or its elements to stimulate cognitive processes, have been widely applied for memory modulation purposes. Most studies used music perception during the consolidation window. There are few studies that use MBI to modulate memory reconsolidation. This paper presents three experiments that investigate the effect of music-perception-based interventions on the reconsolidation of visual emotional memory. Experiment 1 compares the effect of listening to experimenter-selected arousing and relaxing musical pieces from different cultural backgrounds. Experiment 2 examined the effect of listening to arousing and relaxing preference music, selected by participants. Finally, Experiment 3 tested if the effect of music could be explained by an explanation other than reconsolidation-based one. The main result showed that listening to experimenter- or participant-selected arousing music immediately after reactivation could modulate emotional visual memory, impairing free recall but not recognition. This effect seems to be driven by reconsolidation. These findings contribute to current discussions surrounding reconsolidation and interventions that allow memory processes to be influenced.