Oliver T. Wolf, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Cognitive Psychology
Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology
Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

 

Link to Website

 

Image

The influence of stress on memory and extinction in humans

Stress causes an increase in the stress hormones (nor)adrenalin and cortisol. By influencing the amygdala, the hippocampus and prefrontal regions they exert opposing effects on memory storage (consolidation) and memory retrieval. We therefore may remember aspects of a stressful event for a lifetime, but might fail to retrieve studied information during an exam. In my talk I will provide examples of experimental laboratory studies illustrating these effects in humans at the behavioural and neural level. Moreover, developmental changes as well as disorder specific alterations will be discussed. Finally the findings will be transferred to the area of extinction and a recently developed model (Stress Timing affects Relapse, STaR model) will be described. This research demonstrates that while the acute stress response typically promotes successful adaptation this may come at certain costs increasing the susceptibility to mental disorders in vulnerable individuals.

ZOOM: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/82674227601