Abstract: Memory consolidation has traditionally been perceived as a slow process, extending over years, even decades. However, new research indicates that memory can consolidate rapidly when new information is consistent with existing schemas or employs specific encoding methods. Moreover, the influence of sleep and retrieval on memory is believed to be linked to rapid consolidation. This paper reviews studies on rapid memory consolidation and summarizes two potential mechanisms driving this swift process: schema-based learning and repetition reactivation. Future investigations could delve into the hippocampus's role in cortical learning, the significance of interference suppression in memory consolidation, and, by adopting an adaptive perspective on the interplay between fast and slow memory consolidation processes, unravel the dual nature of rapid memory consolidation as a double-edged sword.

Key words: memory consolidation, hippocampus, schema, reactivation