Targeted memory reactivation (TMR) is a technique that aims to selectively cue and strengthen memories during sleep by presenting associated sensory cues. Rudoy et al. (2009) provided foundational evidence for TMR by demonstrating improved spatial memory performance when auditory cues were replayed during deep sleep. While this finding has significant implications for understanding memory consolidation, the true effect size and useful potential of TMR remain uncertain. The ManyBeds project is a large-scale, multi-lab replication study designed to rigorously test the TMR effect. Across 13 labs from three continents, behavioral and sleep-EEG data from 600 participants will provide a precise estimate of the TMR effect and insights into the robustness and variability of analyses. Using a split-half dataset, the project employs a many-analysts approach where teams preregister their analyses, exchange feedback, and submit reproducible scripts, allowing validation of results on the withheld dataset. ManyBeds further aims to explore contextual factors that influence replication outcomes, such as researcher expectations and analysis choices. ManyBeds not only addresses questions about replicability, robustness, and variability in sleep-dependent memory research but also serves as a model for Big Team Science approaches. This presentation will discuss the study’s aims, current progress, and its potential to advance replicability and transparency in cognitive psychology and neuroscience.

Rudoy, J. D., Voss, J. L., Westerberg, C. E., & Paller, K. A. (2009). Strengthening individual memories by reactivating them during sleep. Science, 326(5956), 1079. DOI:10.1126/science.1179013