title: The behavioural, cognitive, and neural corollaries of blunted cardiovascular and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress.
abstract: Recent research shows that blunted cardiovascular and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress are associated with adverse behavioural and health outcomes: depression, obesity, bulimia, and addictions. These outcomes may reflect suboptimal functioning of the brain's fronto-limbic systems that are needed to regulate motivated behaviour in the face of challenge. In support of this, brain imaging data demonstrate fronto-limbic hypoactivation during acute stress exposure. Those demonstrating blunted reactions also show impairments of motivation, including lower cognitive ability, more rapid cognitive decline, and poorer performance on motivation-dependent tests of lung function. Persons exhibiting blunted stress reactivity display well established temperament characteristics, including neuroticism and impulsivity, characteristic of various behavioural disorders. Notably, the outcomes related to blunted stress reactivity are similar to those that define Reward Deficiency Syndrome. Accordingly, some individuals may be characterised by a broad failure in cardiovascular and cortisol responding to both stress and reward, reflecting fronto-limbic dysregulation. Finally, we proffer a model of blunted stress reactivity, its antecedents and sequelae, and identify future research priorities.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA.
authors.forename: Annie T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ginty
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Electronic address: a.c.phillips@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Lovallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Susanne R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: de Rooij
mesh_terms: D002319:Cardiovascular System; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Behaviour; Blunted stress reactivity; Cardiovascular activity; Cognitive ability; Cortisol; Health; Neural hypoactivation