Acute cortisol elevations cause heightened arousal ratings of objectively nonarousing stimuli.
To test the effects of cortisol on affective experience, the authors orally administered a placebo, 20 mg cortisol, or 40 mg cortisol to 85 men. Participants' affective responses to negative and neutral stimuli were measured. Self-reported affective state was also assessed. Participants in the 40-mg group (showing extreme cortisol elevations within the physiological range) rated neutral stimuli as more highly arousing than did participants in the placebo and 20-mg groups. Furthermore, within the 20-mg group, individuals with higher cortisol elevations made higher arousal ratings of neutral stimuli. However, cortisol was unrelated to self-reported affective state. Thus, findings indicate that acute cortisol elevations cause heightened arousal in response to objectively nonarousing stimuli, in the absence of effects on mood.
Abercrombie
Heather C
HC
Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53719, USA. hcabercr@wisc.edu
Kalin
Ned H
NH
Davidson
Richard J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D014796:Visual Perception
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010919:Placebos; D006854:Hydrocortisone