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

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.

Figure 1

Average (± SEM) salivary cortisol response to CPS or control arm immersion. * = P < .05 from the corresponding control value.

Figure 2

Average (± SEM) percent recall of slides defined as arousing and as neutral by the CPS and control groups. * = P < .02 from corresponding control value.

Figure 3

Average (± SEM) number of details recalled from both arousing and neutral slides by the CPS and control groups. * < .01 from corresponding control value.