The effect of cortisol on autobiographical memory retrieval depends on remoteness and valence of memories

•Recent autobiographical memories are recalled more specific than remote ones.•Specificity in memory retrieval depends on valence of the retrieved memory.•Cortisol does not affect recent, but remote autobiographical memories depending on valence.

There is evidence that specificity of autobiographical memory (AM) retrieval is impaired by cortisol. However, it is unknown whether glucocorticoids differentially influence the retrieval of recent versus remote AMs. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of cortisol on AM retrieval, in terms of memory specificity, with respect to remoteness of the retrieved memories. A placebo controlled, double blind study was conducted. Thirty female and 24 male healthy participants (mean age 24.5, SD = 3.7) received either placebo or 10 mg hydrocortisone before completing an autobiographical memory test. Participants showed higher memory specificity for recent memories compared to remote ones. There was no main effect of cortisol on AM retrieval. However, interaction effects suggest that cortisol affects remote, but not recent memories, which seems to depend upon valence.