Cortisol and stimulus-induced arousal level differentially impact memory for items and backgrounds

摘要: Most studies examine the effects of stress on memory for visual information test entire scenes. However, arousal levels may differentially influence backgrounds as opposed to items. Participants encoded scenes that included a negative-high-arousal, negative-moderate-arousal, or neutral item background. After 30-minute (Experiment 1) 48-hour delay 2), participants underwent stressor control task while heart rate was recorded. A recognition then given with items and presented separately. High-arousal images had greater detriment in background than moderate-arousal images. Further, though there evidence change cortisol level at retrieval associated impaired items, it not detriments memory. Increased both backgrounds. This suggests sympathetic reactivity affects