Inverted-U function between salivary cortisol and retrieval of verbal memory after hydrocortisone treatment.
The present study investigated the effect of a single oral dose of hydrocortisone (cortisol) on retrieval of verbal and nonverbal declarative memory. Fifty-nine healthy participants were randomly assigned to either receive 25 mg cortisol or a placebo 45 min before retrieval in a standardized memory test procedure. There was no global effect of cortisol on either verbal or nonverbal memory. However, a specific negative effect on free recall of associative verbal material appeared. In addition, high responders (salivary cortisol concentration>68.25 nmol/L) exhibited impaired verbal memory compared with low responders (<68.25 nmol/L). The results suggest specific nonlinear effects of cortisol on declarative memory retrieval, which appear to be more pronounced for verbal material.
Domes
Gregor
G
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Rostock University, Rostock, Germany. gregor.domes@med.uni-rostock.de
Rothfischer
Julia
J
Reichwald
Ursula
U
Hautzinger
Martin
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010919:Placebos; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010919:Placebos; D006854:Hydrocortisone