Birth Control Use Alters Memory for a Stressful Experience
Advisor(s)
Dr. Kristie Payment
Dr. Phillip Zoladz
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Start Date
24-4-2026 10:00 AM
End Date
24-4-2026 10:50 AM
Abstract
Hormonal birth control methods are widely used; however, some users suffer considerable side effects. Previous research suggests oral contraceptive users exhibit a blunted cortisol response to psychosocial stressors and alterations in emotional memory, including differential recall of emotional images and details of emotional stories. However, no studies have examined how birth control influences memory for a stressful experience.
The present study analyzes data previously collected from female undergraduate students. In this study, participants reported contraceptive use, then underwent a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or the friendly-TSST (f-TSST). The TSST required participants to deliver a ten-minute, mock job interview speech in front of two lab panel members; the f-TSST required casual conversation about their interests. In both conditions, panel members interacted with (central) or did not interact with (peripheral) objects, allowing participant memory for the experience to be quantified. Heart rate and blood pressure measures were collected, and saliva samples were collected to examine cortisol and alpha-amylase. The next day, participants’ memory for the objects present on Day 1 was assessed. Participants’ intrusive memories were also quantified on Days 2, 4, 6, and 8.
Contraceptive users tended to exhibit lower cortisol levels following the speech task, although this effect did not reach statistical significance. More importantly, naturally cycling females exposed to the TSST demonstrated greater object recognition memory and reported intrusive memories that were more intense and more bothersome than contraceptive users. These findings imply that contraceptive use alters memory for a stressful experience.
Recommended Citation
Gross, Julia, "Birth Control Use Alters Memory for a Stressful Experience" (2026). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 84.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2026/Posters/84
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Birth Control Use Alters Memory for a Stressful Experience
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Hormonal birth control methods are widely used; however, some users suffer considerable side effects. Previous research suggests oral contraceptive users exhibit a blunted cortisol response to psychosocial stressors and alterations in emotional memory, including differential recall of emotional images and details of emotional stories. However, no studies have examined how birth control influences memory for a stressful experience.
The present study analyzes data previously collected from female undergraduate students. In this study, participants reported contraceptive use, then underwent a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or the friendly-TSST (f-TSST). The TSST required participants to deliver a ten-minute, mock job interview speech in front of two lab panel members; the f-TSST required casual conversation about their interests. In both conditions, panel members interacted with (central) or did not interact with (peripheral) objects, allowing participant memory for the experience to be quantified. Heart rate and blood pressure measures were collected, and saliva samples were collected to examine cortisol and alpha-amylase. The next day, participants’ memory for the objects present on Day 1 was assessed. Participants’ intrusive memories were also quantified on Days 2, 4, 6, and 8.
Contraceptive users tended to exhibit lower cortisol levels following the speech task, although this effect did not reach statistical significance. More importantly, naturally cycling females exposed to the TSST demonstrated greater object recognition memory and reported intrusive memories that were more intense and more bothersome than contraceptive users. These findings imply that contraceptive use alters memory for a stressful experience.