Abstract
To some extent, we can shape our recollections by intentionally remembering certain experiences while trying to forget others, for example, by intentional suppression. Acute stress impairs suppression-induced forgetting of memories. It is unclear, however, whether these deficits are a direct consequence of the acute stress-induced cortisol response. The present study was designed to examine the stress-induced impairment in suppression-induced forgetting in a subgroup of cortisol responders. We exposed healthy participants to a stress (n = 55) or no-stress control (n = 32) version of the Maastricht Acute Stress Test before they performed the Think / No-Think task. Here, participants aimed to repeatedly retrieve or suppress memories of previously learned cue-target video clips to mimic the complexity of episodic memories. Results on the subsequent memory test revealed that, while the no-stress controls and cortisol non-responders demonstrated suppression-induced forgetting, this effect was absent in cortisol responders. Moreover, the magnitude of suppression-induced forgetting was negatively correlated to stress-induced cortisol increases. The current study extends findings on stress-induced impairments in suppression-induced forgetting by specifically focusing on cortisol reactivity. Furthermore, our findings show the importance of individual differences in cortisol responses as a driving mechanism behind stress-induced alterations in our capacity to actively control our memory.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 105774 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Psychoneuroendocrinology |
Volume | 142 |
Early online date | 22 Apr 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2022 |
Keywords
- ACUTE STRESS
- Cortisol reactivity
- Cortisol responder
- MECHANISMS
- Maastricht acute stress test (MAST)
- NEGATIVE AFFECT
- No-Think paradigm
- PERSISTENCE
- RETRIEVAL
- Suppression-induced forgetting
- Think
- UNWANTED MEMORIES
- VALIDATION
- SALIVARY CORTISOL
- AWARENESS
- ADAPTATION
- PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESS