Stress-induced cognitive dysfunction: hormone-neurotransmitter interactions in the prefrontal cortex

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Emotion and cognition are intricately connected neural processes.
• Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, releasing hormones and neurotransmitters that impact brain function.
• The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for higher-level cognition and executive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review factors influencing prefrontal cortex (PFC) function under stress.
• To examine how stress-induced dysfunction in the PFC affects cognitive processes, particularly working memory.
• To synthesize findings from non-human primate and rodent studies on stress and PFC function.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on non-human primate and rodent research.
• Analysis of studies investigating neuromodulators and their effects on the PFC.
• Examination of neural circuitry, receptors, and signaling pathways involved in stress response.

Main Results:

• Stress significantly impairs prefrontal cortex (PFC) function, leading to measurable deficits in working memory.
• Multiple neuromodulators, including glucocorticoids, catecholamines, and gonadal hormones, interact to cause stress-induced PFC dysfunction.
• Understanding of the underlying circuitry, receptors, and signaling cascades has been advanced by animal models.

Conclusions:

• Stress profoundly impacts cognitive functions governed by the prefrontal cortex (PFC).
• The interplay of various hormones and neurotransmitters is key to stress-induced prefrontal dysfunction.
• Further research in animal models is vital for elucidating mechanisms of stress on cognitive control.