title: Does stress enhance or impair memory consolidation?
abstract: Three experiments examined the hypothesis that stress-induced arousal enhances long-term memory for experiences associated with arousing events. Contrary to expectations, in each experiment exposure to a stressor (arm immersion in ice water) interfered with, rather than enhanced, long-term memory for associated material. Despite varying the stimuli (words, pictures), their emotional value (positive, negative, neutral), the time between learning and stress inductions (0 to 1 minute), and opportunities for post-learning rehearsal, each experiment produced a significant reversal of the hypothesised effect. That is, in each experiment, exposure to a stressor interfered with, rather than enhanced, long-term memory for associated material. We conclude that the relationship between stress and memory consolidation is more bounded than previously believed.
authors.affiliation: a Social Sciences Division , Pepperdine University , Malibu , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Janet P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Trammell
authors.forename: Gerald L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Clore
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001143:Arousal; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D057567:Memory, Long-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
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