Uncorrected publication bias distorts the spindle-memory link: Comment on Chen et al (2024) “Sleep spindles consolidate declarative memory with tags: A meta-analysis of adult data”
Abstract
The recent meta-analyis by Chen et al (2024) investigates the link between sleep spindles and the consolidation of tagged declarative memory traces and reports substantial publication bias. The present commentary discusses the significance of publication bias in the literature of the cognitive neuroscience of sleep spindles. Using the dataset published by the original authors, it is demonstrated that with adequate controls for publication bias, the link between sleep spindles and memory consolidation is greatly diminished or absent, in line with the pattern seen in other recent meta-analyses. Large samples, transparent and standardized analysis strategies, and strict controls for publication bias in meta-analyses are essential to ensure replicability in the cognitive neuroscience of sleep spindles.
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