title: Cortisol reduces recall of explicit contextual pain memory in healthy young men.
abstract: Remembering painful incidents has important adaptive value but may also contribute to clinical symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic pain states. Because glucocorticoids are known to impair memory retrieval processes, we investigated whether cortisol affects recall of previously experienced pain in healthy young men. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, 20 male participants were presented pictures, half of them combined with a heat-pain stimulus. The next day, the same pictures were shown in the absence of pain. Cortisol (20 mg) administered 1h before retention testing reduced recall of explicit contextual pain memory, whereas it did not affect pain threshold or pain tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. kschwe19@solnet.ch
authors.forename: Kyrill
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwegler
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ettlin
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Buser
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klaghofer
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goetzmann
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buddeberg
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alon
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brügger
authors.forename: Dominique J-F
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: de Quervain
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010919:Placebos; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D006854:Hydrocortisone