In stress-related situations cortisol is secreted by the hpa-axis. The hippocampus is the most important centre for negative feedback for cortisol. In patients with chronic hypercortisolemia, e.g., due to Cushing's syndrome, cortisol secretion is associated with hippocampal damage and declarative memory dysfunction. Acute elevations in cortisol levels have also been shown to impair declarative memory function. Implications for stress-related memory impairment, such as (partial) amnesia in ptsd, need to be investigated.