School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2012 Nov;37(11):1896-900. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.03.026. Epub 2012 Apr 23.
Recent findings suggest that consolidation of emotional memories is influenced by menstrual phase in women. In contrast to other phases, in the mid-luteal phase when progesterone levels are elevated, cortisol levels are increased and correlated with emotional memory. This study examined the impact of progesterone on cortisol and memory consolidation of threatening stimuli under stressful conditions. Thirty women were recruited for the high progesterone group (in the mid-luteal phase) and 26 for the low progesterone group (in non-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle). Women were shown a series of 20 neutral or threatening images followed immediately by either a stressor (cold pressor task) or control condition. Participants returned two days later for a surprise free recall test of the images and salivary cortisol responses were monitored. High progesterone levels were associated with higher baseline and stress-evoked cortisol levels, and enhanced memory of negative images when stress was received. A positive correlation was found between stress-induced cortisol levels and memory recall of threatening images. These findings suggest that progesterone mediates cortisol responses to stress and subsequently predicts memory recall for emotionally arousing stimuli.
最近的研究结果表明，女性的月经周期会影响情绪记忆的巩固。与其他阶段相比，在孕激素水平升高的黄体中期，皮质醇水平会升高，并与情绪记忆相关。本研究探讨了孕激素对威胁性刺激在应激条件下皮质醇和记忆巩固的影响。招募了 30 名孕激素水平高的女性（黄体中期）和 26 名孕激素水平低的女性（月经周期的非黄体期）。女性观看了一系列 20 张中性或威胁性图片，随后立即接受应激源（冷水加压任务）或对照条件。两天后，参与者进行了图像的惊喜自由回忆测试，并监测唾液皮质醇反应。高孕激素水平与较高的基线和应激诱发的皮质醇水平相关，并且在接受应激时增强了对负面图像的记忆。发现应激诱导的皮质醇水平与威胁性图像的记忆回忆呈正相关。这些发现表明，孕激素介导应激时的皮质醇反应，随后预测对情绪唤起刺激的记忆回忆。
