Emotional tagging and long-term memory formation

Numerous studies support the notion that emotional arousal modulates the formation of long-term memories. The amygdala, a principal component of the emotional memory system, is involved in modulating memory storage in other brain areas according to the emotional content of an encountered event. According to the concept of emotional tagging, activation of the amygdala during emotionally arousing events "tags" the experience as important by strengthening synapses located on neurons that have just been activated in other brain regions, mainly the hippocampus. In line with this hypothesis, research has shown that activation of the amygdala by behavioral manipulations (exposing the subject to emotional content) or by electric stimulation could transform weak memories into strong, long-lasting ones. Although many studies emphasize the enhancing effect of amygdala activation on memory consolidation, a more complex picture emerges when observing emotional arousal under different conditions. Memory consolidation may be enhanced or impaired by emotional arousal depending on such factors as the intensity of the emotional event, one’s ability to cope with it and the timing of the event. Taking these complexities into consideration advances our understanding of the neural mechanisms behind emotional tagging and can provide insight into the neurobiology of affective disorders.