Social recognition is the basis of all social interactions. Here, we show that, in humans, evolutionarily highly conserved neuropeptide oxytocin, after intranasal administration, specifically improves memory for faces, but not nonsocial stimuli. With increased oxytocin levels, previously presented faces were more correctly assessed as “known,” whereas ability recollecting was unchanged. This pattern speaks an immediate and selective effect peptide strengthening neuronal systems memory.

Emotion strengthens the subjective experience of recollection. However, these vivid and confidently remembered emotional memories may not necessarily be more accurate. We investigated whether sense recollection for negative stimuli is coupled with enhanced memory accuracy contextual details using remember/know paradigm. Our results indicate a double-dissociation between feeling remembering, objective neutral scenes. "Remember" judgments were boosted relative to In contrast, associative...

Some studies suggest that stress-induced effects of cortisol on memory are modulated by the valence stimuli to be learned and retrieved. The present study investigated effect acute secretion acquisition retrieval pleasant, unpleasant neutral words.Sixty healthy men were randomly assigned one three experimental groups. Participants either exposed a standardized laboratory stressor (the Trier Social Stress Test) before learning wordlist, or retrieval, not stressed. Free recall recognition...

Memory retrieval is impaired at very low as well high cortisol levels, but not intermediate levels. This inverted-U-shaped relationship between levels and memory may originate from different roles of the mineralocorticoid (MR) glucocorticoid receptor (GR) that bind with distinctly affinity. Here, we examined role MRs GRs in human using specific antagonists. In two double-blind within-subject, cross-over designed studies, young healthy men were asked to retrieve emotional neutral texts...

Emotion strengthens the subjective sense of remembering. However, these confidently remembered emotional memories have not been found be more accurate for some types contextual details. We investigated whether recollecting negative stimuli is coupled with enhanced memory accuracy three specific central details using remember/know paradigm and confidence ratings. Our results indicate that remembering indeed better recollection spatial location temporal context, but higher colored dots placed...

Age-related differences in the psychophysiology of acute stress response are poorly understood given limited number studies and high heterogeneity findings. The present study contributes by investigating age both psychological physiological responses to a sample healthy younger (N = 50; 18-30; Mage 23.06; SD 2.90) older adults 65-84; 71.12; 5.02). Specifically, effects psychosocial (i.e., age-adapted Trier Social Stress Test) were investigated at numerous timepoints throughout phases...

Adrenal stress hormones are considered to play a role in memory enhancement of emotionally arousing events. To investigate the effects cortisol on human emotional memory, subjects were administered hydrocortisone (25 mg) or placebo and presented with either an neutral story. Memory for story was tested 1 week later. In all tests, who viewed scored better parts, indicating that arousal enhances memory. details, showed interaction valence but no main effect: enhanced details version, impaired...

Elevated glucocorticoid levels impair memory retrieval. We investigated whether retrieval under naturally elevated levels, i.e., during the morning rise in cortisol can be improved by suppressing cortisol. In a crossover study 16 men retrieved emotional and neutral texts pictures (learned 3 d earlier) 30 min after awakening, following administration of synthesis inhibitor metyrapone or placebo. Unexpectedly, metyrapone-induced suppression significantly impaired free recall both materials....

The present study set out to investigate the relation of psychological stress cognitive performance and its interplay with key life course markers reserve social capital in a large sample older adults.We assessed (verbal abilities processing speed) 2,812 adults. Participants reported information on education, occupation, leisure activities, family, close friends.Greater was significantly related lower verbal speed. Moderation analyses suggested that relations were reduced individuals higher...

Our daily lives unfold continuously, yet our memories are organised into distinct events, situated in a specific context of space and time, chunked when this changes (at event boundaries). Previous research showed that process, termed segmentation, enhances object-context binding but impairs temporal order memory. Physiologically, peaks pupil dilation index similar to emotion-induced bursts autonomic arousal. Emotional arousal also modulates Yet, these two critical factors have not been...

Cortisol's effects on memory follow an inverted U-shaped function such that retrieval is impaired with very low concentrations, presumably due to insufficient activation of high-affine mineralocorticoid receptors (MR), or high predominant low-affine glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation. Through corresponding changes in re-encoding, the effect cortisol might translate into a persistent change retrieved memory. We tested whether partial suppression morning synthesis by metyrapone, leading...

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Cognitively stimulating activities contribute to the accumulation of cognitive reserve that is proposed be instrumental for maintaining functioning in aging. Adopting a novel, more general conceptual perspective including models vulnerability, we argue may modify longitudinal association between perceived stress and rate subsequent decline executive functioning. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The present study set out...

Our memory is a living canvas that constantly being updated with new information. In this context, emotional events, compared to neutral ones, are generally believed yield stronger traces. Yet, it unclear whether the latter more resistant subsequent changes upon reactivation. Moreover, unknown experiences, effective in altering preexisting memories. Here, we report series of five experiments investigating relationship between emotion and updating. We first replicate prior observation by...

Humans remember emotional events not only better but also exhibit a qualitatively distinct recollective experience—that is, emotion intensifies the subjective vividness of memory, sense reliving event, and confidence in accuracy memory [Phelps, E. A., & Sharot, T. How (and why) enhances recollection. Current Directions Psychological Science, 17, 147–152, 2008]. Although it has been demonstrated that activation beta-adrenergic system, linked to increases stress hormone levels...

Evidence from animal and human research shows that established memories can undergo changes after reactivation through a process called reconsolidation. Alterations of the level stress hormone cortisol may provide way to manipulate reconsolidation in humans. Here, double-blind, within-subject design, we reactivated 3-d-old memory at 3:55 A.M. sixteen men four women, immediately followed by oral administration metyrapone versus placebo, examine whether metyrapone-induced suppression morning...

Objectives: The present study sets out to investigate the relation of cognitive abilities well-being and its interplay with key life course proxies reserve social capital in a large sample older adults.Method: Three thousand eighty adults served as for study. Physical (EuroQoL-5D questionnaire) psychological (Satisfaction Life Scale) well performance terms verbal (Mill Hill vocabulary scale), processing speed (Trail Making Test part A), flexibility B) were assessed. Participants reported...