Stress disrupts context-dependent memory.
Memory is facilitated when the retrieval context resembles the learning context. The brain structures underlying contextual influences on memory are susceptible to stress. Whether stress interferes with context-dependent memory is still unknown. We exposed healthy adults to stress or a control procedure before they learned an object-location task in a room scented with vanilla. Memory was tested 24 h later, either in the same or in a different context (unfamiliar room without the odor). Stress administered prior to encoding abolished the context-dependent memory enhancement found in the control group. Thus, these findings represent the first demonstration of impaired context-dependent memory following stress.
Schwabe
Lars
L
Department of Cognitive Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany. Lars.Schwabe@rub.de
Böhringer
Andreas
A
Wolf
Oliver T
OT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D011312:Pressure; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
D006854:Hydrocortisone