James L. McGaugh

Picture of James L. McGaugh
Distinguished Emeritus Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior
School of Biological Sciences
Fellow, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory
B.A., San Jose State University, 1953, Psychology
Ph.D. Physiological Psychology, University of California, Berkeley 1959
Phone: (949) 824-5401
Email: jlmcgaug@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
307 Qureshey Research Laboratory
Mail Code: 3800
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Neurobiology of learning and memory.
Academic Distinctions
Abraham Rosenberg Research Fellow, 1955-56
National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Senior PostdoctoralFellowship, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, 1961-62
Sigma Xi
Phi Beta Kappa
Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award of the American Psychological Association, 1981
Distinguished Alumnus Award, San Jose State University, 1982
Extraordinarius Award, UC Irvine, 1982
Distinguished Alumnus Award, School of Social Sciences, San Jose State University, 1984
Distinguished Faculty Lectureship Award, UC Irvine, 1985
Merit Award, National Institute of Mental Health, 1987
President, American Psychological Society, 1989-91
Member, National Academy of Sciences, 1989
William James Fellow, American Psychological Society, 1989
Fellow, Society of Experimental Psychologists, 1991
President, 1992-93, Western Psychological Association
Honorary Doctorate of Science, Southern Illinois University, 1991
Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1992
UCI Medal, UC Irvine, 1992
Establishment of James L. McGaugh Award for Excellence in Graduate Research in Neurobiology and Behavior, UC Irvine, 1994
James L. McGaugh Endowed Scholarship, San Jose State University, 1993
Foreign Member, Brazilian Academy of Sciences, 1994
John P. McGovern Award, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1996
Fellow, World Academy of Art and Science, 1997
Robert S. Dow Neuroscience Award, 2000
Corresponding member, Mexican Academy of Sciences, 2000
Laurea Honoris Causa, University of L'Aquila, Italy, 2001
Establishment of James L. McGaugh Endowed Chair, UC Irvine, 2005
Lifetime Achievement Award, The Western Psychological Association, 2006
Norman Anderson Lifetime Achievement Award, Society of Experimental Psychologists, 2008
Karl Lashley Prize in Neuroscience, American Philosophical Society, 2009
Distinguished Visiting Scholar, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas, Dallas, 2011
University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Psychology, 2015
Lifetime Achievement Award, Neurobiology and Behavior, UC Irvine, 2015

Appointments:
San Jose State University:
Department of Psychology, Assistant Professor, 1957-60; Associate Professor, 1960-61
University of Oregon:
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, 1961-64 (on leave, 1961-62)
University of California, Irvine, *Department of Neurobiology and Behavior
Associate Professor, 1964-66; Professor, 1966-74; Distinguished Professor, 1974-94; Distinguished Research Professor, 1994-2018; Distinguished Professor Emeritus, 2018; Founding Chair, 1964-67, 1971-74, 1986-89
Dean, School of Biological Sciences, 1967-70
Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, 1975-77
Executive Vice Chancellor, 1978-82
Founding Director, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, l983-04; Fellow, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 1983-
*Formerly Department of Psychobiology
Appointments
National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Senior Postdoctoral
Fellowship, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, 1961-62
Research Abstract
Research in my laboratory investigates the brain processes underlying the effects of drugs and stress hormones on memory storage. I began my studies of neurochemical influences on memory storage when I was a graduate student. In early research I found that, in rats, stimulant drugs enhanced memory when they were administered immediately after training. These findings suggested that the drugs acted to stimulate memory consolidation. Subsequent findings from my laboratory that posttraining administration of stress hormones released by training experiences enhance memory consolidation indicate that activation of endogenous hormone systems plays an important role in modulating the storage of recently acquired information.


Considerable evidence from my laboratory indicates that the basolateral region of the amygdaloid complex (BLA) is critically involved in mediating drug and hormone effects on consolidation. Lesions and temporary inactivation of the BLA block the drug and hormone effects on memory. Furthermore, infusions of drugs and hormones administered directly into the BLA have effects on memory that are comparable to those of systemic injections. Our findings indicating that beta-adrenergic antagonists infused into the BLA block the effects of many drugs and hormones on memory suggest that the effects involve influences on the release of norepinephrine (NE) and activation of beta-adrenoceptors in the amygdala. In support of this view we have found, in experiments using in vivo microdialysis, that stimulation of the kind typically used in training rats induces the release of NE in the amygdala, and that drugs and hormones affecting memory modulate NE release in the amygdala. Additionally, the amount of NE released following training correlates highly with subsequent retention.


Findings of other recent experiments indicate that the amygdala influences memory by modulating the functioning of other brain regions involved in information storage. Current studies in my laboratory focus on the interaction of the amygdala with other brain regions in regulating memory storage.
Publications
Selected publications (out of 575)

McGaugh, J. L. Time-dependent processes in memory storage. Science, 1966, 153, 1351-1358.

McGaugh, J. L. Memory: A Century of Consolidation. Science, 2000, 287, 248-251.

McGaugh, J.L. and Roozendaal, B. Role of adrenal stress hormones in forming lasting memories in the brain. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 2002, 12, 205-210.

McGaugh, J.L. Memory consolidation and the amygdala: A systems perspective. Trends in Neurosciences, 2002, 25, 456-461.

McGaugh, J.L. Memory and Emotion: The Making of Lasting Memories. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson The Orion House Group Ltd. and New York: Columbia University Press, 2003, 162 pp.

LaLumiere, R.T., Buen, T.-V., and McGaugh, J.L. Posttraining intra-basolateral amygdala infusions of norepinephrine enhance consolidation of memory for contextual fear conditioning. Journal of Neuroscience, 2003, 23, 6754-6758

Okuda, S., Roozendaal, B. and McGaugh, J.L. Glucocorticoid effects on object recognition memory require training-associated emotional arousal. Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, USA, 2004, 101, 853-858.

McGaugh, J.L. The amygdala modulates the consolidation of memories of emotionally arousing experiences. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 2004, 27, 1-28.

McIntyre, C.K., Miyashita, T., Setlow, B., Marjon, K.D., Steward, O., Guzowski, J.F. and McGaugh, J.L. Memory-influencing intra-basolateral amygdala drug infusions modulate expression of Arc protein in the hippocampus. Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, USA, 2005, 102, 10718-10723.

Malin, E. and McGaugh, J.L. Differential involvement of the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex and basolateral amygdala in memory for context and footshock. Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, 2006, 103, 1959-1963.

Berlau, D.J. and McGaugh, J.L. Enhancement of extinction memory consolidation: The role of the noradrenergic and GABAergic

Parker, E.S., Cahill, L. and McGaugh, J.L.. A case of unusual autobiographical remembering. Neurocase, 2006, 12, 35-49.


Roozendaal, B., Okuda, S., de Quervain, D. J-F, and McGaugh, J.L. Glucocorticoids interact with emotion-induced noradrenergic activation in influencing different memory functions. Neuroscience, 2006, 138, 901-910.

Prado-Alcala, R.A., Diaz del Guante, M.A., Garin-Aguilar, M.E., Diaz-Trujillo, A., Quirarte, G., and McGaugh, J.L. Amygdala or hippocampus inactivation after retrieval induces temporary memory deficit. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2006, 86, 144-149.

McGaugh, J.L. Make mild moments memorable: Add a little arousal. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 2006, 10, 345-347.

Green, K.N., Billings, L.M., Roozendaal, B., McGaugh, J.L. and LaFerla, F.M. Glucocorticoids increase amyloid-b and tau pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimers Disease. Journal of Neuroscience, 2006, 26, 9047-9056.

Hui, I.R., Hui, G., Roozendaal, B., McGaugh, J.L. and Weinberger, N.M. Posttraining handling facilitates auditory-cue fear conditioning in rats. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2006, 86, 160-163.

Roozendaal, B., Hui, G.K., Hui, I.R., Berlau, D.J., McGaugh, J.L. and Weinberger, N.M. Basolateral amygdala noradrenergic activity mediates corticosterone-induced enhancement of auditory fear conditioning. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2006, 86, 249-255.

McGaugh, J.L. Make mild moments memorable: Add a little arousal. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 2006, 10, 345-347.

Green, K.N., Billings, L.M., Roozendaal, B., McGaugh, J.L. and LaFerla, F.M. Glucocorticoids increase amyloid-b and tau pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimers Disease. Journal of Neuroscience, 2006, 26, 9047-9056.

Billings, L.M., Green, K.N., McGaugh, J.L. and LaFerla, F.M. Learning decreases Aß*56 and tau pathology and ameliorates behavioral decline in 3xT-AD mice. Journal of Neuroscience, 2007, 27, 751-761.

Malin, E.L., Ibrahim, D.Y., Tu, J.W. and McGaugh, J.L. Involvement of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex in consolidation of inhibitory avoidance memory: Interaction with the basolateral amygdala. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2007, 87, 295-302.

Roozendaal, B., Lengvilas, R., McGaugh, J.L., Civelli, O. and Reinscheid, R.K. Orphanin FQ-nociceptin interactions with the basolateral amygdala noradrenergic system in memory consolidation. Learning and Memory, 2007, 14, 29-35.

McGaugh, J.L. Searching for memory in the brain: Confronting the collusion of cells and systems. In: Neural Plasticity and Memory: From Genes to Brain Imaging, Bermudez-Rattoni, F., ed., Taylor and Francis: Boca Raton, FL, 2007, pp. 1-14.

Ferry, B. and McGaugh, J.L. Involvement of basolateral amygdala a2-adrenoceptors in modulating consolidation of inhibitory avoidance memory. Learning and Memory, 2008, 15, 238-243.

McGaugh, J.L. and Roozendaal, B. Modulation of memory. Scholarpedia, 2008, 3(6):3453.

Roozendaal, B., Schelling, G. and McGaugh, J.L. Corticotropin-releasing factor in the basolateral amygdala enhances memory consolidation via an interaction with the ß-adrenoceptor-cAMP pathway:

Miranda, M.I., Quirarte, G.L., Rodriguez-Garcia, G., McGaugh, J.L. and Roozendaal, B. Glucocorticoids enhance taste aversion memory via actions in the insular cortex and basolateral amygdala. Learning and Memory, 2008, 15, 468-476.

Roozendaal, B., Castello, N., Vedana, G., Barsegyan, A. and McGaugh, J.L. Noradrenergic activation of the basolateral amygdala modulates consolidation of object recognition memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2008, 90, 576-579.

Balderas, I., Rodriguez-Ortiz, C.J., Salgado-Tonda, P., Hurtado, J., McGaugh, J.L. and Bermudez-Rattoni, F. The consolidation of object and context recognition memory involve different regions of the temporal lobe. Learning and Memory, 2008, 15, 618-624.

McGaugh, J.L. and Roozendaal, B. Memory Modulation. In: H. Eichenbaum (Ed.) Memory Systems Vol. (3) of Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference, 4 vols. (J. Byrne Editor), pp. 521-554 Oxford: Elsevier, 2008. Also reprinted in: Concise Learning and Memory: The Editor’s Selection, J.H. Byrne (Ed.), Academic Press, London, pp. 571-603, 2009.

McGaugh, J.L. and Roozendaal, B. Drug enhancement of memory consolidation: Historical perspective and neurobiological implications. Psychopharmacology, 202, 2009, 3-14.

Boccia, M.M., Blake, M.G., Baratti, C.M. and McGaugh, J.L. Involvement of the basolateral amygdala in muscarinic cholinergic modulation of extinction memory consolidation. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 91, 2009, 93-97.

Roozendaal., B. and McGaugh, J.L. Emotional hormones and memory modulation. In: Squire, LR (ed.) Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, volume 3. Oxford: Academic Press. pp. 933-940, 2009.

Chavez, C.M., McGaugh, J.L. and Weinberger, N.M. The basolateral amygdala modulates specific sensory memory representations in the cerebral cortex. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 91, 2009, 382-392.

Campolongo, P., Roozendaal, B., Trezza, V., Hauer, D., Schelling, G., McGaugh, J.L. and Cuomo, V. Endocannabinoids in the rat basolateral amygdala enhance memory consolidation: Involvement of the glucocorticoid system. Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, USA, 106, 2009, 4888-4893.

Campolongo, P., Roozendaal, B., Trezza, V., Cuomo, V., Astarita, G., McGaugh, J.L. and Piomelli, D. The fat-induced satiety factor OEA enhances memory consolidation. Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences USA, 106, 2009, 8027-8031.

Roozendaal, B., McReynolds, J., Van der Zee, E., Lee, S., McGaugh, J.L. and McIntyre, C. Glucocorticoid effects on memory consolidation depend on functional interactions between the medial prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala. Journal of Neuroscience, 29, 2009, 14299-14308.

Leport, A.K.R., Mattfeld, A.T., Dickinson-Anson, H., Fallon, J.H., Stark, C.E.L., Kruggel, F.R., Cahill, L. and McGaugh, J.L. A behavioral and neuroanatomical investigation of highly superior autobiographical memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 98, 2012, 78-92.

McIntyre, C.K., McGaugh, J.L. and Williams, C.L. Interacting brain systems modulate memory consolidation. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 36, 2012, 1750-1762.

McGaugh, J.L. Making lasting memories: Remembering the significant. Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, USA, 110 (2), 2013, 10401-10407.

McGaugh, J.L. and Leport, A. Highly superior autobiographical memory. Scientific American, February 2014, 40-45.

Barsegyan, A, McGaugh, J.L and Roozendaal, B. Noradrenergic activation of the basolateral amygdala modulates the consolidation of object-in-context recognition memory. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 2014. Doi: 10:3389/fnbeh.2014.00160

McGaugh, J.L. Consolidating Memories. Annual Review of Psychology, 66, 2015, 1-24.
Grants
Drug Effects on Learning and Memory, National Institute of Mental Health
Professional Societies
Society for Neuroscience
Association for Psychological Science (Past President)
Graduate Programs
Neurobiology and Behavior
Research Centers
Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory
Last updated
07/24/2018