Inter-individual differences in trait negative affect moderate cortisol's effects on memory formation: preliminary...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Cortisol's impact on memory is modulated by emotional arousal.
• Inter-individual differences in stable traits as moderators of cortisol's memory effects remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how trait negative affect (NA) moderates the relationship between cortisol and memory formation.
• To examine sex differences in the moderating effects of trait NA on cortisol-memory interactions.

Main Methods:

• Two within-subjects studies were conducted with healthy participants.
• Cortisol levels were manipulated endogenously via a speech stressor (Study 1) and exogenously via hydrocortisone infusion (Study 2).
• Trait negative affect (NA) was measured, and free recall of emotional and neutral pictures was assessed.

Main Results:

• Trait NA consistently moderated the association between cortisol and memory formation across both studies.
• In males, lower trait NA correlated with cortisol-induced memory facilitation.
• In females, higher trait NA correlated with enhanced cortisol-related memory increases.

Conclusions:

• Trait negative affect (NA) is a stable individual difference that predicts neurocognitive effects of cortisol, particularly during stressors.
• The direction of cortisol's effects on memory, as moderated by trait NA, appears to differ between sexes.