Larry Cahill

Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior
School of Biological Sciences

PH.D., University of California, Irvine, 1990

Phone: (949) 824-1937
Fax: (949) 824-2952

University of California, Irvine
116 Bonney Bldg (inner office)
Irvine, CA 92697-3800

picture of Larry  Cahill

Neural mechanisms of emotionally influenced memory, sex differences in brain
URL The Cahill Laboratory at the University of California, Irvine

This quote by the great American psychologist neatly summarizes the main thrust of my research. Most neuroscientists interested in memory study what they hope prove to be neural mechanisms mediating the formation of memory- the "memory trace." Just as important, in my view, will be understanding mechanisms which regulate the actual information storage mechanisms. I assume that the brain must possess the means to "weight" information storage according to the importance of the information to be stored. Such mechanisms are required so the brain may "select," to borrow William James' term, information for storage.

My research focuses on neural mechanisms of memory formation for emotionally arousing events. Although in the past I have pursued this goal using both animal and human subject models, my current work involves only human subject studies. I employ neuropharmacological, neuropsychological, and brain imaging approaches in these studies. My research suggests that activation of beta-adrenergic receptors and the amygdala in humans are critical for enhanced conscious ("declarative") memory associated with emotional arousal. For example, I have found that beta-adrenergic blockade in healthy humans selectively impairs long-term memory for emotionally arousing material. Patients with selective damage to the amygdala show a similar deficit. Furthermore, amnesic patients with intact amygdalae demonstrate enhanced memory for emotional material despite their overall impaired memory performance.

Finally, human brain imaging studies are consistent with the neuropyschological findings in suggesting that amygdala activity in humans is selectively related to memory formation under conditions of emotional arousal.

  Ferree, N., Wheeler, M., Cahill,L. (in press) The influence of emergency contraception on post-traumatic stress symptoms following sexual assault. Journal of Forensic Nursing,
  Cahill, L (in press) A Half Truth is a Whole Lie: on the Necessity of Investigating Sex influences on Brain Function. Neuroendocrinology.
Grant NIMH 57508 to LC
Organization for the Study of Sex Differences
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Last updated 12/12/2016