The Intricate Interplay Between Stressors and Memory: Experimental, Theoretical, and Non-Canonical Perspective

Stress and memory research continues to uncover the intricate and often paradoxical ways in which stressors influence memory processes. While numerous studies highlight how stress-related hormones can enhance memory consolidation yet impair retrieval, the underlying evolutionary and adaptive roles of these mechanisms remain somewhat elusive. This field's complexity is amplified by the cross-species insights into these processes and the varied outcomes dependent on factors such as stress intensity, memory phase, and learning context. Despite progress in understanding neuromodulators' roles in emotional memory, there is still a considerable challenge in predicting a memory's outcome—whether it will be strengthened, weakened, or inhibited—following a stressful event.This Research Topic aims to gather diverse perspectives that offer deeper insights into these multifaceted relationships. It seeks to present multi-modal experimental approaches and explore theoretical discussions that go beyond the conventional frameworks of understanding. Moreover, it encourages the exploration of alternative models that contrast with canonical views and examines studies reporting unexpected or null results, thereby fostering a comprehensive understanding of how stressors impact memory processes. To gather further insights into stress-induced memory modulation, this Research Topic welcomes contributions from various experimental methods, ranging from behavioral analyses to neural circuit studies. It focuses on questions surrounding how stress interfaces with memory, as well as the exploration of new conceptual frameworks. The themes of interest include, but are not limited to:- Behavioral and neural responses to stress in memory processing- Comparative studies across species and taxa- Theoretical and computational models challenging existing paradigms- Insights into the role of specific stressors or emotional arousal on memory phases- Novel methodologies and unexpected or null findings that could reshape understanding- Stressors: acute or chronic stress; social-evaluative, traumatic, physical, or environmental stress; stress across development and ageing.- Memory processes: encoding, consolidation, retrieval, reconsolidation, extinction, and forgetting; emotional, episodic, spatial, and working memory.- Mechanisms: stress hormones and glucocorticoids; noradrenergic and other neuromodulatory systems; amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal circuits.- Populations and approaches: human and animal studies; clinical and non-clinical populations; behavioural testing, neuroimaging, electrophysiology, psychophysiology, and computational modelling.- Outcomes: individual differences, resilience, stress-related disorders, and implications for treatment or learning—where directly tied to memory.We invite researchers to contribute original research articles, review articles, and theoretical papers that advance the field's knowledge and stimulate new lines of inquiry. Topic editors: Gaston Calfa, Ken Lukowiak, Jimmy Stehberg, Alejandro Delorenzi, Raquel Vecchio Fornari Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/73718/the-intricate-interplay-between-stressors-and-memory-experimental-theoretical-and-non-canonical-perspective