Frontolimbic function and cortisol reactivity in response to emotional stimuli.
Frontolimbic structures involved in fear conditioning have also been associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis modulation, including amygdaloid, hippocampal, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex regions. Although HPA-axis function and endocrine changes have been investigated in the context of stress provocation, much research has not been conducted using functional neuroimaging in the study of the HPA axis and frontolimbic function in response to emotional stimuli. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the association of blood-oxygen-level dependent signal with salivary cortisol in response to an emotional visual scene paradigm was investigated, with prescan and postscan salivary cortisol analyzed as a covariate of interest during specific conditions. Cortisol reactivity to the paradigm was positively associated with amygdalar and hippocampal activity and negatively associated with ventromedial prefrontal cortex activity in conditions involving emotional imagery.
Root
James C
JC
Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, PO Box 140, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, NY 10021, USA. jcr2003@med.cornell.edu
Tuescher
Oliver
O
Cunningham-Bussel
Amy
A
Pan
Hong
H
Epstein
Jane
J
Altemus
Margaret
M
Cloitre
Marylene
M
Goldstein
Martin
M
Silverman
Michael
M
Furman
Daniella
D
Ledoux
Joseph
J
McEwen
Bruce
B
Stern
Emily
E
Silbersweig
David
D
D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008032:Limbic System / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D006854:Hydrocortisone