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Interindividual differences in stress sensitivity: basal and stress-induced cortisol levels differentially predict
Marloes J A G Henckens1, Floris Klumpers2, Daphne Everaerd3
1Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands marloes.henckens@radboudumc.nl.
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
|December 16, 2015
Summary
Individual stress responses vary due to hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis function. Higher basal cortisol indicates resilience, while higher stress-induced cortisol aids recovery in sensitive individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Individual differences in stress response are significant.
- Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis function is a key marker of stress sensitivity.
- Understanding neural mechanisms underlying stress coping is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how basal cortisol levels and stress-induced cortisol responses predict neural vigilance processing during stress.
- To examine the relationship between HPA-axis function and individual differences in stress sensitivity.
- To explore the neural correlates of stress resilience and sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- 120 healthy males underwent stress-induction and control procedures in a randomized crossover design.
- fMRI scanning was used during an emotional perception task (viewing fearful and happy faces).
- Stress sensitivity was assessed via salivary cortisol levels and trait questionnaires.
Main Results:
- High stress-induced cortisol correlated with increased stress sensitivity, medial temporal activity, and amygdala responses to fearful faces under control conditions.
- High basal cortisol levels were linked to stress resilience, lower amygdala activity increase, and enhanced differential face processing under stress.
- Findings suggest HPA-axis signaling plays a critical role in stress coping.
Conclusions:
- Higher basal cortisol levels are associated with stress resilience.
- Elevated cortisol response to stress may facilitate recovery in sensitive individuals.
- HPA-axis activity differentially influences neural processing related to stress and emotional perception.
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