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Cortisol alters reward processing in the human brain.

Valerie L Kinner1, Oliver T Wolf1, Christian J Merz1

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The stress hormone cortisol reduces reward anticipation. Cortisol

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Dysfunctional reward processing is linked to psychiatric disorders.
  • Stress hormones like cortisol can reduce reward sensitivity, potentially contributing to psychopathology.
  • Neurobiological mechanisms and sex differences in these effects are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neurobiological effects of cortisol on reward processing.
  • To explore potential sex differences in how cortisol impacts the neural reward system.
  • To understand how stress hormones might influence vulnerability to psychiatric disorders.

Main Methods:

  • A neuroimaging study involving 60 participants (30 men, 30 women).
  • Administration of 30mg cortisol or placebo.
  • Testing reward processing using the Monetary Incentive Delay Task.

Main Results:

  • Cortisol attenuated neural responses to rewards in the pallidum and parahippocampal gyrus.
  • In men, cortisol reduced activation in the amygdala, precuneus, anterior cingulate, and hippocampus.
  • In women, cortisol increased activation in these same regions, with enhanced reward learning.
  • Men showed impaired reward learning under cortisol, while women showed augmented learning.

Conclusions:

  • Cortisol significantly diminishes reward anticipation.
  • Cortisol's effects on the neural reward system exhibit sex differences.
  • These sex-specific effects may contribute to different vulnerabilities for psychiatric disorders.