Cortisol and DHEA-S are associated with startle potentiation during aversive conditioning in humans.
BACKGROUND
Fear conditioning reliably increases the startle reflex and stress hormones, yet very little is known about the effect of stress hormones on fear-potentiated startle. Cortisol and the sulfate ester of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA-S) are involved in stress and anxiety. Evidence suggests that low cortisol/DHEA-S ratio has a buffering effect on stress and anxiety in preclinical and clinical studies, suggesting that there may be a relationship between fear-potentiated startle and cortisol and DHEA-S activity.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to examine whether there is a relationship between cortisol/DHEA-S ratio and fear-potentiated startle.


METHODS
Thirty healthy subjects participated in a differential aversive conditioning experiment during which one of two stimuli (CS+) was paired with a shock, and the other was not (CS-). Conditioned responses were assessed with the startle reflex, defined as startle potentiation during CS+ compared to CS-. DHEA-S and cortisol levels were assayed from blood samples collected in both a baseline and an aversive conditioning session. Subjective state anxiety, arousal, and valence were assessed at various times during testing.


RESULTS
Fear-potentiated startle was larger in individuals with high compared to low cortisol/DHEA-S ratio. Multiple regression analyses revealed that fear-potentiated startle was positively associated with cortisol and negatively associated with DHEA-S. There was no significant correlation between DHEA-S and cortisol levels.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that cortisol and DHEA-S are involved in fear conditioning.
Grillon
Christian
C
NIMH/NIH/DHHS, Mood and Anxiety Disorder Program, 15K North Drive, MSC 2670, Bethesda, MD 20892-2670, USA. Christian.Grillon@nih.gov
Pine
Daniel S
DS
Baas
Johanna M P
JM
Lawley
Megan
M
Ellis
Valerie
V
Charney
Dennis S
DS
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D004597:Electroshock; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology*
D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone