Sex differences in stress effects on emotional learning
Stress influences emotional learning and memory processes. These effects are thought to underlie stress‐associated mental disorders. Sex differences in stress reactivity and in central nervous system stress sensitivity illustrate the important modulatory role of sex hormones. This Review outlines ho...
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Published in | Journal of neuroscience research Vol. 95; no. 1-2; pp. 93 - 105 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
01.01.2017
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Stress influences emotional learning and memory processes. These effects are thought to underlie stress‐associated mental disorders. Sex differences in stress reactivity and in central nervous system stress sensitivity illustrate the important modulatory role of sex hormones. This Review outlines how stress hormones influence different stages of the fear conditioning process, such as fear acquisition, extinction, and retrieval. Results will be compared with findings on the impact of stress on episodic memory. The focus is on the available human data on sex differences and the impact sex hormones have on the stress effects on emotional learning and memory. It will become apparent that the menstrual cycle but also the intake of hormonal contraceptives modulates the impact of stress on brain and behavior. Additional basic research is needed for a deeper insight regarding the interplay between stress and sex hormones in emotion and cognition. In addition, new treatment options might be derived to optimize existing strategies such as exposure therapy, which relies on the principles of fear conditioning. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
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Bibliography: | SIGNIFICANCE: We highlight the interaction between stress and sex hormones in the domain of episodic memory and fear conditioning in humans. These effects might help to explain the different vulnerabilities for men and women regarding the development and maintenance of stress‐related mental disorders. Moreover, it becomes apparent that sex hormone variations over the course of the menstrual cycle and the intake of oral contraceptives represent critical variables to consider in future basic science studies. ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-1 ObjectType-Article-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 |
ISSN: | 0360-4012 1097-4547 |
DOI: | 10.1002/jnr.23811 |