StressAcGen Stress effects on Memory Accuracy versus Generalisation: Testing a new model based on influencing the temporal dynamics of memory consolidation

紧张和情绪激动的经历会激活荷尔蒙和大脑系统，从而产生强烈的记忆。然而，目前还不清楚这种强化如何影响这些记忆的质量。人类行为研究显示了相互矛盾的结果：一些研究表明，情感记忆是以一种概括的方式记忆的，从而导致对经验中心主题的强烈的基于gist-based的表征。然而，其他研究报告增加了细节记忆的准确性。没有一种综合理论可以解释这些明显相互矛盾的发现。我们提出了一个新的模型，假设两个主要的应激激素去甲肾上腺素（NA）和皮质醇（CORT）发挥相反的效果的准确性和概括性的记忆，通过不同的影响大脑系统水平的过程的基础上的时间依赖性的记忆巩固的过程。我们假设NA通过促进杏仁核-海马连接来提高记忆准确性，从而创造出持久的海马依赖性情景记忆。相反，CORT通过促进新记忆整合到现有的新皮层网络中，减少海马依赖性，从而有助于记忆概括。目前的跨学科建议将通过进行人类行为，药理学和神经影像学研究结合啮齿动物的机制研究来测试这个模型。这一新模式的验证将具有广泛的法律的、教育和临床意义。

Stressful and emotionally arousing experiences activate hormonal and brain systems that create strong memories. It remains unclear, however, how this strengthening affects the quality of such memories. Human behavioural studies show contradictory results: Some studies indicate that emotional memories are remembered in a generalised manner, resulting in strong gist-based representations of the central theme of an experience. However, other studies report increased accuracy of detail memory. No integrative theory exists that explains these apparently conflicting findings. We propose a novel model which postulates that the two main stress hormones noradrenaline (NA) and cortisol (CORT) exert opposite effects on accuracy and generalisation of memory through distinct effects on brain systems-level processes underlying the time-dependent process of memory consolidation. We hypothesis that NA improves memory accuracy by boosting amygdala-hippocampal connectivity, thereby creating long-lasting hippocampus-dependent episodic memories. In contrast, CORT contributes to memory generalisation by promoting integration of new memories into existing neocortical networks, decreasing hippocampal dependence. The current interdisciplinary proposal will test this model by conducting human behavioural, pharmacological and neuroimaging studies in combination with mechanistic studies in rodents. The validation of this new model will have broad legal, educational and clinical implications.