Role of adrenal stress hormones in forming lasting memories in the brain

Recent experiments investigating the effects of adrenal stress hormones on memory provide extensive evidence that epinephrine and glucocorticoids modulate long-term memory consolidation in animals and human subjects. Release of norepinephrine and activation of beta-adrenoceptors within the basolateral amygdala is critical in mediating adrenal stress hormone regulation of memory consolidation.