Stress and laterality - The comparative perspective.
Functional hemispheric asymmetries can vary over time and steroid hormones have been shown to be one of the factors that can modulate them. Research into this matter has mainly focused on sex steroid hormones (androgens, estrogens and progestogens), although there is increasing evidence that glucocorticoids which are related to the body's response to stress (e.g. cortisol or corticosterone) might also modulate functional hemispheric asymmetries. Here, we review studies in humans and non-human model species investigating the relation of stress and laterality. Results indicate a dual relationship of the two parameters. Both acute and chronic stress can affect different forms of lateralization in the human brain, often (but not always) resulting in greater involvement of the right hemisphere. Moreover, lateralization as a form of functional brain architecture can also represent a protective factor against adverse effects of stress.
Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Biopsychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: sebastian.ocklenburg@rub.de.
Sebastian
S
Ocklenburg
Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Biopsychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
S Mechiel
SM
Korte
Institute of Medical Psychology and Systems Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
Jutta
J
Peterburs
Department of Cognitive Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Oliver T
OT
Wolf
Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Biopsychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Onur
O
Güntürkün
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*
Cortisol; Functional hemispheric asymmetries; Lateralization; Steroid hormones; Stress