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Cited by 1,271Memory and Neural MechanismsMemory Processes and InfluencesStress Responses and Cortisol

β-Adrenergic activation and memory for emotional events

Cahill, Larry, Prins, Bruce, Weber, Michael, McGaugh, James L.·1994·Nature
DOI 10.1038/371702a0
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Abstract

Substantial evidence from animal studies suggests that enhanced memory associated with emotional arousal results from an activation of beta-adrenergic stress hormone systems during and after an emotional experience. To examine this implication in human subjects, we investigated the effect of the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol hydrochloride on long-term memory for an emotionally arousing short story, or a closely matched but more emotionally neutral story. We report here that propranolol significantly impaired memory of the emotionally arousing story but did not affect memory of the emotionally neutral story. The impairing effect of propranolol on memory of the emotional story was not due either to reduced emotional responsiveness or to nonspecific sedative or attentional effects. The results support the hypothesis that enhanced memory associated with emotional experiences involves activation of the beta-adrenergic system.

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  • Beta blockers (e.g., propranolol) inhibit the action of norepinephrine and epinephrine at β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors and have shown promise in both animal models and humans when administered during the acute phase of trauma, but results have been mixed.

    “Beta blockers (e.g., propranolol), a class of compounds that are antagonists of β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors, inhibit the action of norepinephrine and epinephrine at these sites and have shown promise in both animal models and humans when administered during the acute phase of trauma, however, results have been mixed (Cahill et al., 1994; Vaiva et al., 2003; Hoge et al., 2012; Bailey et al., 2”

    From Maladaptive autonomic regulation in PTSD accelerates physiological aging (2015) · cites this paper as Cahill et al., 1994

  • High levels of norepinephrine β-AR stimulation during acute stress increase the coupling of the vmPFC to subcortical limbic areas and enhance the memory consolidation processing of the amygdala.

    “High levels of norepinephrine β-AR stimulation during acute stress increase the coupling of the vmPFC to subcortical limbic areas58 and enhance the memory consolidation processing of the amygdala35.”

    From Stress weakens prefrontal networks: molecular insults to higher cognition (2015) · cites this paper as [35]

  • The increased activity in the amygdala also involved increased catecholamine actions.

    “The increased activity in the amygdala also involved increased catecholamine actions35 (see below), accentuating how chemical changes during acute stress exposure can switch neural orchestration of behavior from top-down to more primitive brain states (Fig. 1b).”

    From Stress weakens prefrontal networks: molecular insults to higher cognition (2015) · cites this paper as [35]

  • Noradrenaline pathways involving β-adrenergic receptors play a role in emotional memory and emotional perception, as judged by effects of propranolol.

    “noradrenaline pathways involving β-adrenergic receptors are known to play a role in emotional memory and emotional perception (Cahill et al. 1994; Harmer et al. 2001) as judged by the effects of the non-selective β-adrenoceptor antagonist, propranolol.”

    From Propranolol reduces implicit negative racial bias (2012) · cites this paper as Cahill et al. 1994

  • Propranolol in single doses is a well-established means of assessing the role of noradrenaline pathways in emotional learning and perception.

    “Propranolol in single doses is a well-established means of assessing the role of noradrenaline pathways in emotional learning and perception (Cahill et al. 1994; Harmer et al. 2001; Hurlemann et al. 2010a, b; Mihov et al. 2010).”

    From Propranolol reduces implicit negative racial bias (2012) · cites this paper as Cahill et al. 1994

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Authors
Cahill, L., Prins, B., Weber, M., & McGaugh, J. L.
Affiliations
University of California, Irvine (US)
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1994-10
Volume
371
Issue
6499
Pages
702-704
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/371702a0
OpenAlex
W2078599937
Cited by
1,271
References
19
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 55 · 2013: 52 · 2012: 63
FWCI
13.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
beta-adrenergic receptors, propranolol, emotional memory, emotional arousal, memory consolidation, stress hormones, memory impairment
MeSH terms
Adult, Blood Pressure, Emotions, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Memory, Propranolol, Receptors, Adrenergic, beta

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