Stress and cognitive function: The role of glucocorticoids in learning and memory

Long-term memory storage is a selective process whereby a decision is made, at the neural level, about the type of information available at a learning experience that should be preserved in memory. The physiological systems involved in the organisms’ response to stress appear as potential modulators of memory formation. In particular, recent studies have indicated that the central actions of corticosteroids -the final products of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activation- are one of the mechanisms implicated in the formation of enduring memories. By acting through specific receptors, these hormones are able to modulate different aspects of neural and behavioural plasticity. In this work, we review the role of glucocorticoids (cortisol or corticosterone, depending on the animal specie) on certain cognitive processes, such as learning and memory formation.