Cortisol suppression after memory reactivation impairs later memory performance

Article Article scientifique Article Cortisol suppression after memory reactivation impairs later memory performance eng 2019 author Antypa Argyro-Despoina 798451 author Rodrigues Cabrita David 778231 author Vuilleumier Patrik 0000-0002-8198-9214 134853 author Rimmele Ulrike 784969 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.03.035 0306-4530 Experiencing stressful or traumatic events can result in disabling clinical symptoms of maladaptive emotional memory retrieval, which are only partly addressed by the currently proposed treatments. Cortisol modulation has been shown to affect emotional memory retrieval and potentially reconsolidation, offering an opportunity for developing more efficient treatments for disorders with an emotional memory component. Here, we investigated if cortisol suppression after reactivation of emotional memories weakens later memory thereof. Forty healthy young men were tested in a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind, and between-subject design, assigned either to a cortisol suppression (metyrapone) group or a placebo group. Participants of both groups, were presented with two emotional stories at an encoding session (Day 1). One of the two stories was later reactivated and followed by metyrapone vs. placebo administration (Day 3). Memory for both stories was tested at a recognition memory session (Day 7). In the group undergoing cortisol suppression after memory reactivation memory performance was weaker compared to the placebo group, tested four days after reactivation. This study shows that cortisol suppression can weaken memory for past events, possibly by altering reconsolidation processes and thus exerting long-lasting weakening effects on the original memory. Cortisol Metyrapone Memory Reconsolidation Emotion Dewey 128.37 Dewey 616.8 Dewey 618.97 European Commission Effects of emotion and stress on different memory phases 334360 EMOTIONAL MEMORY EU FP7 Swiss National Science Foundation Effects of emotion and stress on different memory stages 137126 CH Careers Swiss National Science Foundation Effects of emotion and stress on different memory stages 160861 CH Careers 14 Centre interfacultaire de gérontologie et d'études des vulnérabilités 0D6 15 Centre interfacultaire en sciences affectives 0D8 53 Département de neurosciences fondamentales 21A false 1241 Affective sciences 428 Mécanismes cérébraux du comportement et des fonctions cognitives 701 Psychoneuroendocrinology 20a4e915-3888-4b24-9e71-c529843eecd2 Article (Accepted version) Restricted 1-s2.0-S0306453018312381-main.pdf 441314 application/pdf restrictedAccess Centres et instituts / Centre interfacultaire de gérontologie et d'études des vulnérabilités Centres et instituts / Centre interfacultaire en sciences affectives Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine fondamentale / Département de neurosciences fondamentales

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Cortisol suppression after memory reactivation impairs later memory performance	Psychoneuroendocrinology			2019	606	8

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Rodrigues Cabrita, David