SYNAPSE. SYNAPSE Emotions reinforce memory. Stage 3 (See images 1968 05 and 11969 05 for stages 1 and 2) In response to increased synaptic sensitivity, genes are activated to form new neuronal connections and glutamate receptors. In the long term, this mechanism makes it possible to lastingly retain what has been learned so that when the same event occurs again, the information, stored in the memory and linked to an emotion, is recalled more quickly by the brain.