Acute neural response to cortisol as detected by functional connectivity analysis

• Published in: Pharmacopsychiatry
• Main Authors: Kiem, SA, Andrade, K, Spoormaker, VI, Holsboer, F, Czisch, M, Sämann, PG
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: 13.09.2013
• ISSN: 0176-3679; 1439-0795
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1353287

Circulating cortisol exerts different functions within the stress homeostasis system: one is to modify neuronal response during or in the after math of stress (e.g. [1]), another is to provide central negative feedback to downregulate the tone of the HPA axis [2]. In this combined fMRI/endocrine study in 20 healthy males we compared effects of 20 mg of hydrocortisone to placebo both 5 and 35 minutes after injection using different methods of functional connectivity analysis (seed based network analysis, cross correlation analysis, functional connectivity density mapping [FCDM]). Among 15 preselected seed based networks, time-by-drug effects were mainly detected in subgenual/subcallosal areas, with hypothesis-free FCDM similarly demonstrating the anterior cingulate to response most strongly. Hippocampal responses as previously highlighted were rather weak [2,3], pointing out that possibly prefrontal/anterior cingulate areas sense circulating cortisol sensitively to reorganize connectivity patterns. Results share similarity with PET results from trauma patients [4] and acute stress experiments [5]. In-depth seed analyses on the basis of the FCDM result in the ACC will be performed to further decode the connectivity changes induced by cortisol. [1] Henckens et al. J Neurosci 2010;30:12725 – 32 [2] Lovallo et al. PNEC 2010;35:15 – 20 [3] Symmonds et al. ENP 2012;22:867 – 74 [4] Liberzon et al. AJP 2007;164:1250 – 8 [5] Thomason et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2011;52:102