Research Interests

Our laboratory investigates how stress influences learning, extinction, and memory processes in humans. The focus is on stress hormones, most notably cortisol the end product of the hypothalamus, pituitary adrenal axis. Stress is induced in the laboratory in an experimental fashion using well established paradigms. Moreover, pharmacological approaches are taken. We could show that stress and its associated increase of the stress hormone cortisol enhances memory consolidation but impairs memory retrieval. Both effects are more pronounced for emotional arousing material. Functional imaging studies indicate that these effects reflect specific actions of the stress hormone on the human amygdala and hippocampus (Wolf, 2017).
As part of the SFB 874 we investigated memories of stressful episodes. In order to do so a series of experiments was conducted. Results revealed enhanced memories for central aspects of the stressful episode (Wolf, 2019). 
As part of the SFB 1280 we are investigating the effect of stress on extinction. Results obtained so far have been integrated into the STaR model (Stress Timing affects Relapse; Meir Drexler et al. 2019)
As a member of the research unit 2812 we test the impact of stress on the balance between the episodic and the semantic memory system. In order to do so we developed a novel VR based memory paradigm allowing the experimental induction of conflicts between these two memory systems (Zöllner et al., in press). 

Meir Drexler, S., Merz, C.J., Jentsch, V.L., Wolf, O.T. (2019). How stress and glucocorticoids timing-dependently affect extinction and relapse. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 98, 145-153.
Wolf, O.T. (2017). Stress and Memory Retrieval: Mechanisms and Consequences. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. 14, 40-46
Wolf O.T. Memories of and influenced by the Trier Social Stress Test. (2019). Psychoneuroendocrinology. 105, 98-104.
Zöllner, C., Klein, N., Cheng, S., Schubotz, R.I., Axmacher, N., Wolf, O.T. (in press). Where was the Toaster? A systematic investigation of semantic construction in a new virtual episodic memory paradigm. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology.