The Impact of Emotional Arousal on Amygdala Activity, Memory Consolidation, and Long-Term Potentiation in the Hippocampus

Abstract

The amygdala is important for the perception and expression of emotion. Research on the amygdala has shown that its activation through emotional arousal leads to enhanced memory of certain events. Emotional experience is known to induce the release of hormones epinephrine and cortisol, which are essential for responding to stressful events. These hormones initiate pathways between the amygdala, locus coeruleus and vagus nerve as well as aid in the activation of the hippocampus, a brain region involved in forming solid memories that can endure the tests of time. Through these hormones, the amygdala can instigate long-term potentiation (LTP) and spike-timing dependent plasticity (STPD) through hormone binding and modulation of gamma and theta frequency neuronal oscillations in the brain. Oftentimes, memories which are remembered best are emotionally saturated, but the biochemistry responsible for this effect is not yet fully understood. This review will analyze and summarize the research of many decades on this perplexing topic to hopefully help untangle a small component of the complex and intricate design of the human creation.