Diurnal cortisol amplitude and fronto-limbic activity in response to stressful stimuli

Amy C. Cunningham-Bussel; James C. Root; Tracy Butler; Oliver Tuescher; Hong Pan; Jane Epstein; Daniel S. Weisholtz; Michelle Pavony; Michael E. Silverman; Martin S. Goldstein; Margaret Altemus; Marylene Cloitre; Joseph LeDoux; Bruce McEwen; Emily Stern; David Silbersweig

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.11.011

Diurnal cortisol amplitude and fronto-limbic activity in response to stressful stimuli

Amy C. Cunningham-Bussel, James C. Root, Tracy Butler, Oliver Tuescher, Hong Pan, Jane Epstein, Daniel S. Weisholtz, Michelle Pavony, Michael E. Silverman, Martin S. Goldstein, Margaret Altemus, Marylene Cloitre, Joseph LeDoux, Bruce McEwen, Emily Stern, David Silbersweig

Neural Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The development and exacerbation of many psychiatric and neurologic conditions are associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis as measured by aberrant levels of cortisol secretion. Here we report on the relationship between the amplitude of diurnal cortisol secretion, measured across 3 typical days in 18 healthy individuals, and blood oxygen level dependant (BOLD) response in limbic fear/stress circuits, elicited by in-scanner presentation of emotionally negative stimuli, specifically, images of the World Trade Center (WTC) attack. Results indicate that subjects who secrete a greater amplitude of cortisol diurnally demonstrate less brain activation in limbic regions, including the amygdala and hippocampus/parahippocampus, and hypothalamus during exposure to traumatic WTC-related images. Such initial findings can begin to link our understanding, in humans, of the relationship between the diurnal amplitude of a hormone integral to the stress response, and those neuroanatomical regions that are implicated as both modulating and being modulated by that response.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	694-704
Number of pages	11
Journal	Psychoneuroendocrinology
Volume	34
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.11.011
State	Published - Jun 2009

Keywords

Amygdala
Cortisol
Hippocampus
Medial prefrontal cortex
Neuroimaging
Stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Endocrinology
Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Psychiatry and Mental health
Biological Psychiatry

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10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.11.011

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Cunningham-Bussel, A. C., Root, J. C., Butler, T., Tuescher, O., Pan, H., Epstein, J., Weisholtz, D. S., Pavony, M., Silverman, M. E., Goldstein, M. S., Altemus, M., Cloitre, M., LeDoux, J., McEwen, B., Stern, E., & Silbersweig, D. (2009). Diurnal cortisol amplitude and fronto-limbic activity in response to stressful stimuli. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 34(5), 694-704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.11.011

Cunningham-Bussel, AC, Root, JC, Butler, T, Tuescher, O, Pan, H, Epstein, J, Weisholtz, DS, Pavony, M, Silverman, ME, Goldstein, MS, Altemus, M, Cloitre, M, LeDoux, J, McEwen, B, Stern, E & Silbersweig, D 2009, 'Diurnal cortisol amplitude and fronto-limbic activity in response to stressful stimuli', Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 694-704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.11.011

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abstract = "The development and exacerbation of many psychiatric and neurologic conditions are associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis as measured by aberrant levels of cortisol secretion. Here we report on the relationship between the amplitude of diurnal cortisol secretion, measured across 3 typical days in 18 healthy individuals, and blood oxygen level dependant (BOLD) response in limbic fear/stress circuits, elicited by in-scanner presentation of emotionally negative stimuli, specifically, images of the World Trade Center (WTC) attack. Results indicate that subjects who secrete a greater amplitude of cortisol diurnally demonstrate less brain activation in limbic regions, including the amygdala and hippocampus/parahippocampus, and hypothalamus during exposure to traumatic WTC-related images. Such initial findings can begin to link our understanding, in humans, of the relationship between the diurnal amplitude of a hormone integral to the stress response, and those neuroanatomical regions that are implicated as both modulating and being modulated by that response.",

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author = "Cunningham-Bussel, {Amy C.} and Root, {James C.} and Tracy Butler and Oliver Tuescher and Hong Pan and Jane Epstein and Weisholtz, {Daniel S.} and Michelle Pavony and Silverman, {Michael E.} and Goldstein, {Martin S.} and Margaret Altemus and Marylene Cloitre and Joseph LeDoux and Bruce McEwen and Emily Stern and David Silbersweig",

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AU - Pavony, Michelle

AU - Silverman, Michael E.

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AU - Cloitre, Marylene

AU - LeDoux, Joseph

AU - McEwen, Bruce

AU - Stern, Emily

AU - Silbersweig, David

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Diurnal cortisol amplitude and fronto-limbic activity in response to stressful stimuli

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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