Sex differences in emotional memory consolidation: The effect of stress-induced salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol

This study examined sex differences in the emotional memory consolidation, and the impact of stress-induced cortisol and salivary alpha amylase responses on emotional memory recall. Following baseline salivary measures, 39 healthy women and 41 men viewed 20 neutral and 20 negative arousing images, and then underwent either a cold pressor stress test or control condition, followed by further salivary measures. Participants returned two days later for a free recall test. The stress condition induced greater cortisol response, and negative images were better recalled than neutral. Whereas women displayed greater recall of negative images under stress than men, they recalled fewer negative images in the control condition. Stress-induced cortisol predicted recall of negative images in women, and neutral images in men. This suggests there is an enhanced consolidation of negative images under stress in women that may be a potential mechanism for the greater female prevalence for developing anxiety disorders.

► Negative images were better recalled than neutral images.
► Women under stressful conditions recalled greater negative images than men.
► Women under non-stressful conditions recalled fewer negative images than men.
► Stress-induced cortisol predicted negative image recall in men.
► Stress-induced cortisol predicted negative and neutral image recall in women.