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

压力和情感唤起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，目前尚不清楚这种强化是如何影响这些记忆的质量的。人类行为研究显示出矛盾的结果：一些研究表明，情绪记忆是以一种概括的方式被记住的，从而导致对经历的中心主题产生强烈的基于要点的表征。然而，其他研究表明，细节记忆的准确性有所提高。没有综合理论可以解释这些明显矛盾的发现。我们提出了一个新的模型，该模型假设两种主要的应激激素去甲肾上腺素（NA）和皮质醇（CORT）通过对大脑系统水平过程的不同影响，在记忆巩固的时间依赖性过程基础上，对记忆的准确性和泛化产生相反的影响。我们假设NA通过增强杏仁体-海马的连通性来提高记忆的准确性，从而创造持久的海马依赖情景记忆。相比之下，CORT通过促进新记忆整合到现有的新皮层网络，减少海马依赖，有助于记忆概括。目前的跨学科提案将通过进行人类行为、药理学和神经影像学研究，结合啮齿类动物的机制研究，来测试这一模型。这种新模式的验证将具有广泛的法律、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.