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Stress and Memory: from Mechanisms to Long-Lasting Consequences

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Brain Aging and Therapeutic Interventions

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Abstract

Memories for emotionally arousing and fearful events are remembered well in general. This memory enhancing effect is mediated by stress hormones which are released during and shortly after exposure to the events and reflects a highly adaptive process that enables the retention of relevant information. However, in susceptible individuals, exposure to stressful events may result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) where traumatic memories are vividly expressed. Stress also has an important influence on the brain throughout the lifespan. For instance, stress during the early postnatal period impairs spatial learning and memory processes but enhances emotional memory formation later in life. Prolonged exposure to corticosteroids is also thought to promote hippocampal aging and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Understanding how stress affects memory is therefore crucial to understand the development of stress-related psychopathology. In this chapter, mechanisms that underlie the effects of (early life) stress on memory formation as well as potential approaches to target the effects of stress on memory formation will be addressed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swammerdam Institute of Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098, Amsterdam, XH, The Netherlands

    Harmen J. Krugers

  2. Rudolf Magnus Institute, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Division of Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Marian Joels

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  1. Harmen J. Krugers
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Correspondence to Harmen J. Krugers .

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  1. , Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Mahendra K. Thakur

  2. , Department of Molecular Biology, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10-C, Aarhus-C, 8000, Denmark

    Suresh I.S. Rattan

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Krugers, H.J., Joels, M. (2012). Stress and Memory: from Mechanisms to Long-Lasting Consequences. In: Thakur, M., Rattan, S. (eds) Brain Aging and Therapeutic Interventions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5237-5_13

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