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Cortisol and Memory

Meaning

This describes the intricate, dose-dependent relationship between cortisol, the primary glucocorticoid stress hormone, and the physiological processes governing memory formation, storage, and retrieval in the human brain. While acute, moderate increases in cortisol can enhance memory consolidation, chronic elevation or severe deficiency profoundly impairs cognitive function. The balance of this adrenal hormone is therefore a critical determinant of hippocampal integrity and overall mental acuity.