Effects of Cortisol Suppression on Sleep-Associated Consolidation of Neutral and Emotional Memory
Abstract
Background Previous research indicates that hippocampus-dependent declarative memory benefits from early nocturnal sleep, when slow-wave sleep (SWS) prevails and cortisol release is minimal, whereas amygdala-dependent emotional memory is enhanced through late sleep, when rapid eye movement (REM) sleep predominates. The role of the strong cortisol rise accompanying late sleep for emotional memory consolidation has not yet been investigated.Methods Effects of the cortisol synthesis inhibitor metyrapone on sleep-associated consolidation of memory for neutral and emotional texts were investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 14 healthy men. Learning took place immediately before treatment, which was followed by 8 hours of sleep. Retrieval was tested at 11 am the next morning.Results Metyrapone suppressed cortisol during sleep and blocked particularly the late-night rise in cortisol. It reduced SWS and concomitantly impaired the consolidation of neutral texts. Emotional texts were spared from this impairing influence, however. Metyrapone even amplified emotional enhancement in text recall indicating amygdala-dependent memory.Conclusions Cortisol blockade during sleep impairs hippocampus-dependent declarative memory formation but enhances amygdala-dependent emotional memory formation. The natural cortisol rise during late sleep may thus protect from overshooting emotional memory formation, a mechanism possibly pertinent to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder.
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Pharmacological blockade of cortisol synthesis, lowering cortisol during early nocturnal SWS below baseline, impairs sleep-dependent declarative memory consolidation in humans.
“Accordingly, lowering cortisol levels in humans during early nocturnal SWS below baseline levels by pharmacological blockade of cortisol synthesis impaired sleep-dependent declarative memory consolidation (1272).”
From About Sleep's Role in Memory (2013) · cites this paper as [1272]
The late night rise in cortisol appears to dampen amygdala-dependent emotional processing and could exert a protective function by preventing excessive emotionality in memory.
“Thus, the late night rise in cortisol appears to dampen amygdala-dependent emotional processing and could exert a protective function by preventing excessive emotionality in memory.”
From Impact of Sleep and Its Disturbances on Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity (2010) · cites this paper as [58]
Metyrapone suppressed cortisol concentrations, especially the rise in cortisol during late sleep, decreased time spent in SWS, which was replaced by shallow NREM sleep, and preserved REM sleep.
“Metyrapone suppressed cortisol concentrations, especially the rise in cortisol during late sleep, and decreased time spent in SWS, which was replaced by shallow NREM sleep. REM sleep was preserved.”
From Impact of Sleep and Its Disturbances on Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity (2010) · cites this paper as [58]
While memory for neutral texts was reduced, metyrapone amplified emotional enhancement in text recall.
“While memory for the neutral texts was reduced, interestingly metyrapone even amplified emotional enhancement in text recall”
From Impact of Sleep and Its Disturbances on Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity (2010) · cites this paper as [58]
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References 91 · Cited by 119
- Authors
- Wagner, U., Degirmenci, M., Drosopoulos, S., Perras, B., & Born, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Lübeck (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Wagner, Ullrich
- ORCID
- Wagner, Ullrich
- Venue
- Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-12
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 885-893
- ISSN
- 0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1970648079
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 91
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 3.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- cortisol, metyrapone, sleep-dependent memory consolidation, emotional memory, hippocampal-dependent memory, amygdala, slow-wave sleep, REM sleep, post-traumatic stress disorder, memory enhancement
- MeSH terms
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Adult, Affect, Attention, Double-Blind Method, Emotions, Enzyme Inhibitors, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Memory, Metyrapone, Norepinephrine, Sleep, Sleep, REM, Polysomnography, Cross-Over Studies
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