Cited by 660Memory and Neural MechanismsMemory Processes and InfluencesStress Responses and Cortisol

Enhanced human memory consolidation with post-learning stress: interaction with the degree of arousal at encoding

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Cahill, Larry, Gorski, Lukasz, Le, Kathryn·2003·Learning & Memory

Abstract

Abundant evidence indicates that endogenous stress hormones such as epinephrine and corticosterone modulate memory consolidation in animals. We recently provided the first demonstration that an endogenous stress hormone (epinephrine) can enhance human memory consolidation. However, these findings also suggested that post-learning stress hormone activation does not uniformly enhance memory for all recently acquired information; rather, that it interacts with the degree of arousal at initial encoding of material in modulating memory for the material. Here we tested this hypothesis by administering cold pressor stress (CPS) or a control procedure to subjects after they viewed slides of varying emotional content, and assessing memory for the slides 1 wk later. CPS, which significantly elevated salivary cortisol levels, enhanced memory for emotionally arousing slides compared with the controls, but did not affect memory for relatively neutral slides. These findings further support the view that post-learning stress hormone-related activity interacts with arousal at initial encoding to modulate memory consolidation.

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Crossref · 10.1101/lm.62403

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  • Models of emotional arousal and learning suggest that the greater the emotional arousal during exposure, the greater the learning.

    “Models of emotional arousal and learning (Cahill, Gorski, & Le, 2003) also suggest that the greater the emotional arousal during exposure, the greater the learning.”

    From Attentional bias and emotional reactivity as predictors and moderators of behavioral treatment for social phobia (2013) · cites this paper as Cahill, Gorski, & Le, 2003

    The Discussion (page unavailable) says that arousal at encoding affects later memory consolidation, and the Results report better recall of arousing slides after post-learning stress. But the paper does not establish the general rule that greater arousal during exposure means greater learning: the enhancement depended on post-learning stress, and control subjects recalled fewer details from arousing than neutral slides. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Strong emotionality can, under some conditions, enhance memory.

    “On the contrary, extensive research has shown that strong emotionality can, under some conditions, enhance memory (Ni [41]; Cahill et al. [87]; McGaugh [88]; Sharot et al. [89]; Nielson et al. [90]).”
  • Behavioral and pharmacological studies in humans showed enhanced long-term memory consolidation for emotional stimuli after stress or glucocorticoid (GC) treatment directly before or after encoding, while impairing the consolidation of neutral material.

    “Behavioral and pharmacological studies in humans showed enhanced long-term memory consolidation for emotional stimuli after stress or glucocorticoid (GC) treatment directly before or after encoding, while impairing the consolidation of neutral material [56], [57], [58].”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Gold, P.E. and McGaugh, J.L. 1975. A single-trace, two process view of memory storage processes. In Short-term memory (eds. J. Deutsch and D. Deutsch), pp. 355-378. Academic Press, NY.

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Authors
Cahill, L., Gorski, L., & Le, K.
Affiliations
University of California, Irvine (US)
Venue
Learning & Memory
Published
2003-07
Volume
10
Issue
4
Pages
270-274
ISSN
  • 1072-0502 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-5485
OpenAlex
W2028692454
Cited by
660
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 42 · 2014: 48 · 2013: 51 · 2012: 29
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Learning & Memory (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH057508, MH 57508, R29MH057508, R56MH057508)
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
memory consolidation, cold pressor stress, emotional arousal, emotional memory, salivary cortisol, epinephrine, stress hormones
MeSH terms
Adult, Arousal, Brain, Cold Temperature, Emotions, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Learning, Male, Memory, Photic Stimulation, Mental Recall, Reference Values, Saliva, Stress, Physiological

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