Gonadal steroid hormones and emotional memory consolidation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hsu, Chia-Ming K.; Ney, Luke J.; Honan, Cynthia; Felmingham, Kim L.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 130(2021)
• Page Start: 529
• Page End: 542
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Progesterone -- Estradiol -- Menstrual cycle -- Emotion -- Stress -- Memory -- Fear extinction; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Increasing progesterone is associated with more emotionally negative recall and intrusive memories. The progesterone effect on intentional recall is enhanced under stress induction. Estradiol level is positively associated with fear extinction recall. Future studies should examine progesterone and estradiol concurrently across all menstrual phases and the interaction with stress hormones on emotional memory consolidation. Abstract: Anxiety and stress-related disorders are more prevalent in women and associated with negative emotional memory consolidation as well as impaired fear extinction recall. Recent research has identified a role of gonadal steroid hormones in influencing emotional memories and fear extinction, however most individual studies have small samples and employed various protocols. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on studies that examined sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, allopregnanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone) on four aspects of memory, namely, intentional recall (k = 13), recognition memory (k = 7), intrusive memories (k = 9), and extinction recall (k = 11). The meta-analysis on natural cycling women revealed that progesterone level was positively associated with negative recall and negative intrusive memories, and this effect on intentional recall was enhanced under stress induction. Estradiol level was positively associated with extinction recall. This study reveals an important role of progesterone and estradiol in influencing emotional memory consolidation. It highlights the need to control for these hormonal effects and examine progesterone and estradiol concurrently across all menstrual phases in future emotional memory paradigms.