title: Heart rate response to post-learning stress predicts memory consolidation.
abstract: Stressful experiences are often well remembered, an effect that has been explained by beta-adrenergic influences on memory consolidation. Here, we studied the impact of stress induced heart rate (HR) responses on memory consolidation in a post-learning stress paradigm. 206 male and female participants saw 52 happy and angry faces immediately before being exposed to the Cold Pressor Test or a non-stressful control procedure. Memory for the faces and their respective expression was tested twice, after 30 min and on the next day. High HR responders (in comparison to low HR responders as well as to the non-stressful control group) showed enhanced recognition memory one day after learning. Our results show that beta-adrenergic activation elicited shortly after learning enhances memory consolidation and that the stress induced HR response is a predictor for this effect.
authors: Institute of Psychobiology, Division of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Johanniterufer 15, 54290 Trier, Germany. Electronic address: larra@uni-trier.de.
authors: Mauro F
authors: MF
authors: Larra
authors: Research Unit INSIDE, Division of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Luxembourg, Route de Diekirch, 7220 Walferdange, Luxembourg.
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Schulz
authors: Institute of Psychobiology, Division of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Johanniterufer 15, 54290 Trier, Germany.
authors: Thomas M
authors: TM
authors: Schilling
authors: Institute of Psychobiology, Division of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Johanniterufer 15, 54290 Trier, Germany.
authors: Diana S
authors: DS
authors: Ferreira de Sá
authors: Institute of Psychobiology, Division of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Johanniterufer 15, 54290 Trier, Germany.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Best
authors: Institute of Psychobiology, Division of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Johanniterufer 15, 54290 Trier, Germany.
authors: Bartlomiej
authors: B
authors: Kozik
authors: Institute of Psychobiology, Division of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Johanniterufer 15, 54290 Trier, Germany.
authors: Hartmut
authors: H
authors: Schächinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cold pressor stress test; Heart rate; Identity memory; Memory consolidation; Recognition memory