The Cahill Laboratory at the University of California, Irvine
Focusing on Neural Mechanisms of Emotionally Influenced Memory
Members of the lab
Principal Investigator
Larry Cahill
Ph.D, Psychobiology - University of California, Irvine (1990)
Postdoctoral Scholars
Joseph M. Andreano
Ph.D, Neurobiology and Behavior - University of California, Irvine (2008)
B.A., Psychology/Philosophy - Rutgers College (2001)
CV (download as pdf)
My research focuses on the interactions between sex and stress hormones in the formation of emotional memories.
In previous studies, I have investigated differences in the relationship between cortisol and memory consolidation
between men and women, as well as between women in hormonally distinct phases of the menstrual cycle. In a subsequent
study using fMRI, I observed differences in the neural correlates of emotional encoding associated with these phases.
My current project aims to characterize the hormonal, behavioral, and neural effects of the suppression of ovarian
hormones by studying a population of breast cancer survivors treated with the GnRH agonist Lupron. Our preliminary work,
done in collaboration with the Breastlink Medical Group has established both an impairment of emotional
memory and a disruption of HPA activity in these patients. We are currently working with Breastlink to identify effects
of Lupron on emotional processing using fMRI. If you are interested in helping with this project, please visit our
projects page for more information.
Graduate Students
Nikole K. Ferree
B.A., Psychology - Reed College (2001)
My research focuses on hormonal contributions to the experience of spontaneous intrusive recollections (SIRs). SIRs occur
after viewing emotional films and are instances of images from the films popping into one's head involuntarily. I have found
that people report more SIRs after emotional than neutral films, and that that SIR frequency correlates with memory strength
under emotional but not neutral conditions. Because real world emotional experiences are often accompanied by cortisol
release, a current study in the lab is concerned with examining the relationship between cortisol and SIR frequency. I have
each subject watch emotional films and then immerse his/her arm in ice water to create a robust cortisol release, and then
determine whether the magnitude of the cortisol release is related to SIR frequency. Because one of the key clinical features
of post-traumatic stress disorder is intrusive symptoms, another line of research in the lab explores the potential clinical
relevance of my laboratory findings. In a previous study in the lab, I found that women in the luteal phase of the menstrual
cycle report significantly more SIRs than either women in the follicular phase or men, and that.salivary progesterone levels
are positively correlated with SIR frequency. We are currently working with Forensic Nurse Specialists, Inc. to investigate
whether a woman's position within the menstrual cycle at the time of a trauma influences her post-traumatic stress symptoms
in subsequent months. We are also exploring whether exogenously administered progesterone, in the form of emergency
contraception given after a sexual assault, has any influence on subsequent post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Sabrina K. Segal
B.S., Biopsychology - University of California, Santa Barbara (2001)
My research focuses on the influence of norepinephrine and cortisol interactions on memory consolidation in men and women.
In a previous study in the lab I found that young healthy individuals recalled more emotionally arousing images than neutral,
and that this memory enhancement was directly proportional to the amount of endogenous norepinephrine that was released at
the time of encoding. I use salivary alpha-amylase, a biomarker for norepinephrine to measure participants' noradrenergic
response to various stressors. In a more recent study, I administered hydrocortisone (synthetic cortisol) to naturally
cycling women in the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle who viewed a combination of emotional and neutral images. The
results suggest that the interaction between norepinephrine and cortisol may be an important factor in emotional memory.
We are currently examining whether the use of an acute exercise paradigm that activates endogenous norepinephrine will
enhance memory in healthy older adults, as well as patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Shawn E. Nielsen
B.S., Biopsychology - University of California, Santa
Barbara (2007)
My current research involves eye-tracking technology. I am interested in
using pupil dilation as an indirect index to study the sympathetic stress
response while human subjects view a variety of stimuli (emotional and
neutral). In addition to pupil dilation, I am also interested in
utilizing salivary assays for cortisol and alpha-amylase (an enzymatic tag
for norepinephrine) as additional measures for studying the sympathetic
stress response.
Nicole Ertman
B.S., Biopsychology - State University of New York, Binghamton (2006)
I'm interested in understanding the contributions of sex hormones to cognition and behavior. Right now, I'm looking at
what happens to emotional and neutral memories during the menstrual cycle to see if normal
changes in estrogen and progesterone levels have an effect on memory. I'm particularly interested in learning about
any differences that might exist between the way men and women encode, consolidate, or retrieve emotional memories,
and what role sex hormones might play in that.
Rotation Students
Aurora Leport
B.S., Psychology and Social Behavior - University of California, Irvine (2008)
I am interested in researching superior memory.
