Is the contribution of the amygdala to the sex- and enhancement-related effects of emotional memory time-dependent?
A new focus in the field of emotional memory is the study of sex-related differences. Whether the sex-related lateralization of amygdala function (i.e., the female-left/male-right effect) in the emotional enhancement of memory (EEM) is time-dependent remains unclear. To evaluate this phenomenon, we conducted a two time-point study (20 min vs. 24h) using fMRI and behavioral paradigms. We found that the right amygdala predicted 20-min EEM, while the left amygdala predicted 24-h EEM. The sex-related lateralization of amygdala function was not detected in either the 20-min or the 24-h EEM. Our results further confirm and extend the idea that the amygdala exhibits a lateralized and time-dependent dissociation, occurring even in the 24-h EEM relative to the 20-min EEM. The present and previous studies indicate that sex-related lateralization of amygdala function occurs in the 2- to 3-week EEM, but it does not occur in the 1-week, 24-h, or less than 30-min EEM, suggesting that this effect on emotional memory may also be time-dependent.
Wang
Hai-Bao
HB
Division of Bio-X Interdisciplinary Sciences, National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China.
Ma
Ning
N
Yu
Yong-Qiang
YQ
Chen
Ye-Rong
YR
Wang
Kai
K
Zhang
Da-Ren
DR
D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult