Modulating Influences of Hormones and Catecholamines on Memory Storage Processes

This chapter discusses the modulating influences of hormones and catecholamines on memory storage processes. Most of the studies of memory storage modulation have used treatments, such as electrical stimulation of the brain, convulsant drugs, or antibiotics, which have non-specific, widespread, and poorly understood influences on brain function. Such findings suggest that memory storage is influenced perhaps by any alteration in brain function. However, there is extensive recent evidence indicating that some treatments that have profound influences on neural activity have no modulating influences on memory storage. On the other hand, memory storage can be modulated by treatments that produce no gross alterations in brain functioning. The findings of recent studies from several laboratories suggest that it resembles like coming closer to achieving an understanding of the modulating influences of posttraining treatments on memory storage processes. Also investigation of the influences of alterations in central catecholamines and hormones should continue to provide important clues to the processes involved in memory storage.