Glucocorticoid enhancement of memory requires arousal-induced noradrenergic activation in the basolateral amygdala.

ABSTRACT: Considerable evidence indicates that glucocorticoid hormones enhance the consolidation of long-term memories for emotionally arousing experiences but not that for less arousing or neutral information. However, previous studies have not determined the basis of such arousal-induced selectivity. Here we report the finding that endogenous noradrenergic activation of the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA) induced by emotional arousal is essential in enabling glucocorticoid memory enhancement. Corticosterone administered immediately after object recognition training enhanced 24-h memory of naïve male rats but not that of rats previously habituated to the training context in order to reduce novelty-induced emotional arousal. The beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol administered either

SUBMITTER: Roozendaal B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1458951 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature