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Cited by 273Memory and Neural MechanismsMemory Processes and InfluencesSleep and Wakefulness Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 185 of the 185 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Consolidating Memories

McGaugh, James L.·2015·Annual Review of Psychology
DOI 10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-014954
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Abstract

Our own experiences, as well as the findings of many studies, suggest that emotionally arousing experiences can create lasting memories. This autobiographical article provides a brief summary of the author's research investigating neurobiological systems responsible for the influence of emotional arousal on the consolidation of lasting memories. The research began with the finding that stimulant drugs enhanced memory in rats when administered shortly after training. Those findings suggested the possibility that endogenous systems activated by arousal might influence neural processes underlying memory consolidation. Subsequent findings that adrenal stress hormones activated by learning experiences enhance memory consolidation provided strong evidence supporting this hypothesis. Other findings suggest that the enhancement is induced by stress hormone activation of the amygdala. The findings also suggest that the basolateral amygdala modulates memory consolidation via its projections to brain regions involved in processing different aspects and forms of memory. This emotional-arousal-activated neurobiological system thus seems to play an important adaptive role in insuring that the strength of our memories will reflect their emotional significance.

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Crossref · 10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-014954

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185 of 185 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Citations

Cites

Show all 183 references

Research works printed but not linked: 18

  1. Blodgett HC, 1929, Univ. Calif. Publ. Psychol., 4, 113
  2. Christianson S-A, 1992, Handbook of Emotion and Memory: Current Research and Theory
  3. Conway MA, 1995, Flashbulb Memories
  4. Ebbinghaus H, 1885, Über das Gedächtnis
  5. Gallagher M, 1981, The Amygdaloid Complex, 343
  6. Gloor P, 1992, The Amygdala, 505
  7. Halgren E, 1992, The Amygdala, 191
  8. Hull CL, 1943, Principles of Behavior
  9. McGaugh JL. 1959. Some neurochemical factors in learning . PhD thesis, Univ. Calif., Berkeley
  10. McGaugh JL, 1968, Psychopharmacology: A Review of Progress, 891
  11. McGaugh JL, 2013, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 110, 10401
  12. McGaugh JL, 1972, Memory Consolidation
  13. Müller GE, 1900, Zeitung Psychol., 1, 1
  14. Nachmansohn D, 1938, C. R. Soc. Biol., 129, 941
  15. Pavlov IP, 1927, Conditioned Reflexes
  16. 10.1037/0735-7044.110.5.1074 · DOI
  17. Tolman EC, 1930, Univ. Calif. Publ. Psychol., 4, 17
  18. Williams CL, 1991, Peripheral Signaling of the Brain: Role in Neural-Immune Interactions, Learning and Memory, 467

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Metadata

Authors
McGaugh, J. L.
Affiliations
University of California, Irvine (US)
Corresponding author
McGaugh, James L.
Venue
Annual Review of Psychology
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
2015-01-03
Volume
66
Issue
1
Pages
1-24
ISSN
  • 0066-4308 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-2085
DOI
10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-014954
OpenAlex
W4245500012
Cited by
271
References
183
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 6
FWCI
2.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Annual Review of Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH12526)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
Keywords
memory consolidation, emotional arousal, stress hormones, amygdala, basolateral amygdala, stimulants, memory enhancement, neurobiology of memory
MeSH terms
Amygdala, Animals, Humans, Memory, Neurosciences, Stress, Psychological, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century

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