title: Can the neural-cortisol association be moderated by experience-induced changes in awareness?
abstract: Cortisol homeostasis is important for cognitive and affective functions that depend on cortisol-sensitive brain regions including the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Recent studies have shown that training induces changes in the brain. We report the findings of a longitudinal study that verified the moderation effect of experience-induced changes in awareness on the neural-cortisol association in cortisol-sensitive brain regions. These findings provide the first piece of evidence that planned behavioral experience can moderate the neural-cortisol association. A range of changes in awareness was achieved in a sample of 21 Chinese participants, divided into two groups: Awareness-based compassion meditation (ABCM) (n = 10) and relaxation (n = 11). We observed that changes in awareness were significant moderators of hippocampal-cortisol changes. Furthermore, a significant negative association between changes in plasma cortisol level and the resting-state synchrony of the right hippocampal and insular-frontal-operculum regions was observed. These novel findings shed light on the inter-relationships between changes in hippocampal-cortisol levels and changes in awareness and preliminarily identify the neural underpinnings of interventions for cortisol-related abnormal functioning for further study.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cognitive Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Way K W
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cognitive Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Mei-Kei
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chetwyn C H
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Samuel S Y
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cognitive Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Tatia M C
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone