ABSTRACT
SL'BST . \~TIAL evidence from animal studies suggests that enhanced memon· associated with emotional arousal results from an acth·ation of. P-adrenergic stress hormone systems during and after an emotional experience•-·'. To examine this implication in human subjects. we im··estigated the effect of the P-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol h~·drochloride on long-term memoQ· for an emotionally arousing short story, or a close!~· marched but more emotionally neutral story. \'Ve report here that propranolol significant)>· impaired memory of the emotionally arousing story but did not affect memory of the emotionally neutral story. The impairing effect of propranolol on memor>· of the emotional story was not due either to reduced emotional responsinness or to nonspecific sedative or attentional effects. The results support the hypothesi~ that enhanced memory associated with emotional experiences in,·oh•es activation of the P..adrenergic system.
