Emotional arousal regulation of memory consolidation

Recent findings provide increased understanding of how emotional arousal creates lasting memories. The findings are consistent with those of prior studies suggesting that the enhancement assessed in human subjects results from activation of adrenergic and glucocorticoid stress hormones. Additionally, fMRI imaging findings indicate that the enhancement is influenced by activation of the amygdala and its subsequent influences on other brain systems. Findings of recent animal studies using posttraining noradrenergic or optogenetic activation of the amygdala provide extensive evidence that the basolateral amygdala modulates memory consolidation by influencing neuroplasticity in downstream brain systems involved in processing different forms of memory. Activation of these systems helps to insure that emotionally significant experiences are well remembered.