Tune it down to live it up?: rapid, nongenomic effects of cortisol on the human brain

The stress hormone cortisol acts on the brain, supporting adaptation and time-adjusted coping processes. Whereas previous research has focused on slow emerging, genomic effects of cortisol, we addressed the rapid, nongenomic cortisol effects on in vivo neuronal activity in humans. Three independent...

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Hauptverfasser: Strelzyk, Florian (VerfasserIn) , Hermes, Michael (VerfasserIn)
Dokumenttyp: Article (Journal)
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: January 11, 2012
In: The journal of neuroscience
Year: 2012, Jahrgang: 32, Heft: 2, Pages: 616-625
ISSN:1529-2401
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2384-11.2012
Online-Zugang:Verlag, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2384-11.2012
Verlag, Volltext: http://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/2/616
Volltext
Verfasserangaben:Florian Strelzyk, Michael Hermes, Ewald Naumann, Melly Oitzl, Christoph Walter, Hans-Peter Busch, Steffen Richter, and Hartmut Schächinger
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:The stress hormone cortisol acts on the brain, supporting adaptation and time-adjusted coping processes. Whereas previous research has focused on slow emerging, genomic effects of cortisol, we addressed the rapid, nongenomic cortisol effects on in vivo neuronal activity in humans. Three independent placebo-controlled studies in healthy men were conducted. We observed changes in CNS activity within 15 min after intravenous administration of a physiological dose of 4 mg of cortisol (hydrocortisone). Two of the studies demonstrated a rapid bilateral thalamic perfusion decrement using continuous arterial spin labeling. The third study revealed rapid, cortisol-induced changes in global signal strength and map dissimilarity of the electroencephalogram. Our data demonstrate that a physiological concentration of cortisol profoundly affects the functioning and perfusion of the human brain in vivo via a rapid, nongenomic mechanism. The changes in neuronal functioning suggest that cortisol acts on the thalamic relay of background as well as on task-specific sensory information, allowing focus and facilitation of adaptation to challenges.
Beschreibung:Gesehen am 25.08.2020
Beschreibung:Online Resource
ISSN:1529-2401
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2384-11.2012