Yale researchers led by Elizabeth Goldfarb published a study in Science Advances testing how the stress hormone cortisol affects emotion and memory circuits. In the experiment, participants took a pill containing hydrocortisone or a placebo before viewing pictures during an fMRI scan. The fMRI measures oxygenated blood flow to show brain activity. Participants reported how each image made them feel, and the researchers tested memory for the pictures the next day. Each person took part twice, once with hydrocortisone and once with placebo, in a double-blind design.
The team measured short, dynamic functional connectivity during each brief trial, about five seconds, and used these patterns to predict how people felt and which pictures they later remembered. Both predictions worked. The study found that cortisol helped people remember emotional experiences and that it altered emotion and memory networks in specific ways.
Difficult words
- cortisol — a hormone released during stress or danger
- hydrocortisone — a medication similar to the stress hormone cortisol
- placebo — a pill with no active medical ingredient
- functional connectivity — how different brain areas communicate during tasksdynamic functional connectivity
- double-blind — study where neither participants nor researchers know treatment
- oxygenated — having oxygen present in blood or tissue
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Related articles
African Swine Fever threatens Philippine pig sector
African Swine Fever continues to affect the Philippines, with outbreaks across most provinces. The government unveiled new detection tools while an imported vaccine from Vietnam faces criticism and safety concerns.
New acid-free way to recycle lithium-ion batteries
Researchers at Rice University developed a two-step FJH-ClO process that separates lithium and other metals from spent batteries. The lab-scale method recovers valuable materials with less energy, fewer chemicals and less wastewater.
Understanding Climate Change
This article explains climate change, its causes, and effects on the environment.
Algorithms show how catalysts turn propane into propylene
Researchers at the University of Rochester developed algorithms that explain how nanoscale catalysts convert propane to propylene. The work reveals atomic features of metallic and oxide phases and could help improve industrial production methods.
Missing real‑world detail drives AI bias
Research from the University of Texas at Austin finds that AI bias often comes from models that miss complex real‑world conditions. The study of 363 algorithms points to three key risk factors for unfair outcomes.
Daily shift in mouse brain activity
Researchers combined genetic tagging, 3D imaging and computational analysis to follow single cells in mouse brains across the day. They found activity shifts from deep brain layers toward the cortex and aim to identify fatigue signatures.