Time-dependent effects of corticosteroids on human amygdala processing.
Publication year
2010Source
The Journal of Neuroscience, 30, 38, (2010), pp. 12725-32ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
Cognitive Neuroscience
Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging
Neurology
Former Organization
F.C. Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging
Journal title
The Journal of Neuroscience
Volume
vol. 30
Issue
iss. 38
Page start
p. 12725
Page end
p. 32
Subject
130 000 Cognitive Neurology & Memory; 130 028 Probing the mechanistic underpinnings of stress-related memories; DCN 2: Functional Neurogenomics; DCN 3: NeuroinformaticsAbstract
Acute stress is associated with a sensitized amygdala. Corticosteroids, released in response to stress, are suggested to restore homeostasis by normalizing/desensitizing brain processing in the aftermath of stress. Here, we investigated the effects of corticosteroids on amygdala processing using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Since corticosteroids exert rapid nongenomic and slow genomic effects, we administered hydrocortisone either 75 min (rapid effects) or 285 min (slow effects) before scanning in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Seventy-two healthy males were scanned while viewing faces morphing from a neutral facial expression into fearful or happy expressions. Imaging results revealed that hydrocortisone desensitizes amygdala responsivity rapidly, while it selectively normalizes responses to negative stimuli slowly. Psychophysiological interaction analyses suggested that this slow normalization is related to an altered coupling of the amygdala with the medial prefrontal cortex. These results reveal a temporarily fine-tuned mechanism that is critical for avoiding amygdala overshoot during stress and enabling adequate recovery thereafter.
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Academic publications [234419]
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging [3724]
- Electronic publications [117433]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [89251]
- Open Access publications [84372]
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