4 2018 Duke R A Davis C M 2006 Procedural Memory Consolidation in the Performance of Brief Keyboard Sequences Journal of Research in Music Education 54 2 111 124 doi 10 2307 4101434 Authors Robert A Duke and Carla M Davis developed a procedure to test the procedural memory consolidation in the performance of simple keyboard sequences Their study was developed based on previous research done in similar memory exercises by other researchers During the consolidation process skills continue to advance for up to six waking hours after the initial physical practice Sleep has shown to be a factor in retaining information Research has proven that learned procedural skills are enhanced by sleep based memory consolidation It was also noted in the research that the different sleep cycles greatly effects consolidation based enhancement More importantly the night of sleep directly following the initial practice helps establish procedural memories Stickgold et al 2000 A nap as long as it includes REM sleep can also be beneficial in memory enhancement Mednick et al 2002 Mednick et al 2003 As shown with testing of rat as well as human subjects the formation of procedural memories for new skills is interrupted with the use of electro conclusive stimulation transcranial magnetic stimulation and the cortical injection of protein synthesis inhibitors Memory is degraded when these previous items were introduced within 6 hours of the initial practice but not an issue when introduced after a normal sleep cycle Graves et al 2001 Duke and Davis made sure all subjects were clean of any items including drugs alcohol and caffeine at least twelve hours before the study