Emotional learning selectively and retroactively strengthens memories for related events

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 520; no. 7547; pp. 345 - 348
• Main Authors: Dunsmoor, Joseph E., Murty, Vishnu P., Davachi, Lila, Phelps, Elizabeth A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 16.04.2015; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/477/2811; Conditioning, Classical - physiology; Electrodes; Emotions; Emotions - physiology; Fear - physiology; Fear - psychology; Female; Health aspects; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Learning; letter; Male; Memory; Memory, Episodic; Memory, Long-Term - physiology; Memory, Short-Term - physiology; Mental Recall - physiology; Models, Neurological; multidisciplinary; Neural circuitry; Neural Pathways; Neurobiology; Photic Stimulation; Psychological aspects; Recognition, Psychology - physiology; Science; Sleep; Studies; Time Factors; Young Adult

Initially weak episodic memories in humans can be selectively enhanced and consolidated following later emotional learning involving conceptually related information, suggesting a mechanism for how we can remember initially inconsequential information after a relevant later experience. Emotional eve...