The acute effects of psychoactive drugs on emotional episodic memory encoding, consolidation, and retrieval: A comprehensive review.
Manoj K. Doss, Harriet de Wit, David A Gallo
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews July 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105188 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis Ketamine MDMA |
| Keywords | Alcohol Amphetamine Benzodiazepine Consolidation Drugs of abuse Emotional memory Encoding Episodic memory Psychoactive drugs Retrieval Retrograde facilitation Sedatives Stimulants Zolpidem |
| Citations | 30 |
| Key findings | Psychoactive drugs modulate emotional episodic memory in stage-specific ways, with encoding effects ranging from impairment to enhancement, consolidation effects showing time-dependent selectivity, and retrieval effects distorting memory, particularly for positive emotional content. |
Abstract
Psychoactive drugs modulate learning and emotional processes in ways that could impact their recreational and medical use. Recent work has revealed how drugs impact different stages of processing emotional episodic memories, specifically encoding (forming memories), consolidation (stabilizing memories), and retrieval (accessing memories). Drugs administered before encoding may preferentially impair (e.g., GABAA sedatives including alcohol and benzodiazepines, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, ketamine), enhance (e.g., dextroamphetamine and dextromethamphetamine), or both impair and enhance (i.e., ± 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine or MDMA) emotionally negative and positive compared to neutral memories. GABAA sedatives administered immediately post-encoding (during consolidation) can preferentially enhance emotional memories, though this selectivity may decline or even reverse (i.e., preferential enhancement of neutral memories) as the delay between encoding and retrieval increases. Finally, retrieving memories under the effects of THC, dextroamphetamine, MDMA, and perhaps GABAA sedatives distorts memory, with potentially greater selectively for emotional (especially positive) memories. We review these effects, propose neural mechanisms, discuss methodological considerations for future work, and speculate how drug effects on emotional episodic memory may contribute to drug use and abuse.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence | 2004 | Review | |
| Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. General (historical and pharmacological review) | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis | 2001 | Review | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 14
- An Integrated theory of false insights and beliefs under psychedelics. Communications Psychology August 1, 2024
- Compass Psychological Support Model for COMP360 Psilocybin Treatment of Serious Mental Health Conditions American Journal of Psychiatry 2025
- How Psychedelics Modulate Multiple Memory Mechanisms in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Drugs November 1, 2024
- Cognitive functioning associated with acute and subacute effects of classic psychedelics and MDMA - a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports June 26, 2024
- Psychedelics and autobiographical memory - six open questions. Psychopharmacology March 17, 2025
and 9 more in the library
Cites 40
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics Pharmacological Reviews June 20, 2019
- The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 10, 2020
- Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression. Nature Medicine April 11, 2022
- Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin. Scientific Reports February 10, 2020
and 35 more in the library