Stress, Memory, and the Hippocampus
Abstract
Stress hormones, i.e. cortisol in human and cortisone in rodents, influence a wide range of cognitive functions, including hippocampus-based declarative memory performance. Cortisol enhances memory consolidation, but impairs memory retrieval. In this context glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity and hippocampal integrity play an important role. This review integrates findings on the relationships between the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, one of the main coordinators of the stress response, hippocampus, and memory. Findings obtained in healthy participants will be compared with selected mental disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD). These disorders are characterized by alterations of the HPA axis and hippocampal dysfunctions. Interestingly, the acute effects of stress hormones on memory in psychiatric patients are different from those found in healthy humans. While cortisol administration has failed to affect memory retrieval in patients with MDD, patients with PTSD and BPD have been found to show enhanced rather than impaired memory retrieval after hydrocortisone. This indicates an altered sensitivity to stress hormones in these mental disorders.
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The proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells, and the survival of newborn granule cells were increased in the ventral hippocampus compared to vehicle-treated controls.
“The proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells, and the survival of newborn granule cells were increased in the ventral hippocampus, a brain area involved in emotion and stress regulation (65), compared to vehicle-treated controls (54).”
From Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review Unraveling the Biological Underpinnings of Psychedelics. (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
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“The proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells, and the survival of newborn granule cells were increased in the ventral hippocampus, a brain area involved in emotion and stress regulation (65), compared to vehicle-treated controls (54).”
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- Authors
- Wingenfeld, K., & Wolf, O. T.
- Affiliations
- Stiftung Charité (DE)
- Ruhr University Bochum (DE)
- Venue
- Frontiers of Neurology and Neuroscience
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2014
- Volume
- 34
- Pages
- 109-120
- ISSN
- 0300-5186 (ISSN-L)
- 1660-4431
- 1662-2804
- OpenAlex
- W1600522828
- Cited by
- 139
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 17.40
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Monographs in clinical neuroscience/Frontiers of neurology and neuroscience/Monographs in neural sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- stress hormones, cortisol, cortisone, hippocampus, memory consolidation, memory retrieval, glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, stress sensitivity
- MeSH terms
- Borderline Personality Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Major, Hippocampus, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Memory, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress, Psychological
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