Stress and memory retrieval: mechanisms and consequences

Stress impairs memory retrieval. Recent findings illustrate the temporal dynamics and the underlying mechanisms of this effect. The effect appears to occur in multiple memory systems, ranging from striatal-based stimulus-response memory to prefrontal-based extinction memory. The effects of stress on memory retrieval might have long-term consequences due to their impact on re-encoding and re-consolidation. These properties could be of interest for future intervention studies.