The pressure hormone cortisol strengthens memories of scary
stories. However, it is no longer effective now only when memory is first
formed, but also later, when humans look back and have fun, even when memory is
reconsolidated.
This was published using cognitive psychologists from the
Ruhr-Universität Bochum in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. They suggest
that the findings could provide an explanation for the patience of robust
emotional memories that occur in anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD).
Memories of emotional studies generally fade over time.
Strong memories of upsetting criticism crop up regularly,
but usually fade over time. However, people with anxiety or PTSD are haunted by
terrifying memories that haunt them over and over again. The pressure hormone
cortisol has been shown to have a fortifying effect on the consolidation of
memories, that is, the course of several hours during which a memory is formed
immediately after enjoyment.
Cortisol affects the consolidation of emotional memories
The Bochum researchers confirmed that cortisol causes
memories in humans also during so-called reconsolidation, that is.
Consolidation of memories that occur after recall retrieval. The strain hormone
can enhance this system
"The results may also explain why some unwanted
memories do not fade, for example in people with blood pressure and
post-traumatic stress disorder," says Professor Oliver Wolf. If someone
recalling a frightening event has a high-pressure hormone level, the memory of
that specific event can be strongly reconsolidated after each recovery.
The exam
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For three consecutive days, the subjects participated in the
exam, which was completed by Shira Meir Drexler, a doctoral student at the
International Graduate School of Neuroscience in Bochum. On the first day, they
discovered an association between unique geometric shapes and a nasty electric
shock.
On the second day, several people were given a cortisol
tablet, others a placebo. Later, they were shown one of the geometric shapes
related to electrical discharge.
On day 1/3, geometric shape reminiscence was tested. The
participants who took cortisol remembered the form of fear particularly well.
This was evident in increased skin conductance, which is a long-standing degree
of emotional arousal.
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