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Kalisch R, Russo SJ, Müller MB. Neurobiology and systems biology of stress resilience. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:1205-1263. [PMID: 38483288 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00042.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress resilience is the phenomenon that some people maintain their mental health despite exposure to adversity or show only temporary impairments followed by quick recovery. Resilience research attempts to unravel the factors and mechanisms that make resilience possible and to harness its insights for the development of preventative interventions in individuals at risk for acquiring stress-related dysfunctions. Biological resilience research has been lagging behind the psychological and social sciences but has seen a massive surge in recent years. At the same time, progress in this field has been hampered by methodological challenges related to finding suitable operationalizations and study designs, replicating findings, and modeling resilience in animals. We embed a review of behavioral, neuroimaging, neurobiological, and systems biological findings in adults in a critical methods discussion. We find preliminary evidence that hippocampus-based pattern separation and prefrontal-based cognitive control functions protect against the development of pathological fears in the aftermath of singular, event-type stressors [as found in fear-related disorders, including simpler forms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)] by facilitating the perception of safety. Reward system-based pursuit and savoring of positive reinforcers appear to protect against the development of more generalized dysfunctions of the anxious-depressive spectrum resulting from more severe or longer-lasting stressors (as in depression, generalized or comorbid anxiety, or severe PTSD). Links between preserved functioning of these neural systems under stress and neuroplasticity, immunoregulation, gut microbiome composition, and integrity of the gut barrier and the blood-brain barrier are beginning to emerge. On this basis, avenues for biological interventions are pointed out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffael Kalisch
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz, Germany
- Neuroimaging Center (NIC), Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Scott J Russo
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States
- Brain and Body Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States
| | - Marianne B Müller
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz, Germany
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
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Hojjaty A, Zawadzki MJ. Examining how morning stress forecasts relate to subsequent ecological momentary assessments of stress and coping. Stress Health 2024; 40:e3344. [PMID: 37924512 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Stress forecasting is the cognitive process of anticipating and preparing to respond to future stress experiences based on one's own perceived future stress. Though it may seem intuitive that stress forecasting predicts stress, competing theories exist that indicate the relationship is not so inherent. In this paper we conducted two studies which both examine the relationships between stress forecasting and day stress, examining two different stress domains (appraisal and coping). Participants in Study 1 (n = 143 working adults) and Study 2 (n = 60 undergraduate students) completed 4 and 14 days, respectively, of ecological momentary assessment reports of stress appraisal forecasting, stress coping forecasting, stress appraisal reports, and stress coping reports, for a combined total of 5280 completed assessments. Exploratory analysis in Study 2 examined the importance of morning forecast discrepancy in relation to evening recalls of day stress. Results indicate that within domain (e.g., stress appraisal to appraisal reports), or domain specific, stress forecasting is predictive of day stress, and that across domains (e.g., stress appraisal to coping reports), or domain crossover, was consistent between stress appraisal forecasting and stress coping reports. Results suggest that magnitude of bias and day outlook (i.e., being either optimistic or pessimistic) about one's coping ability matters for day stress outcomes. Findings have implications for developing challenge-based thinking interventions and further understanding cognitive processes for building stress management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Hojjaty
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced, California, USA
| | - Matthew J Zawadzki
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced, California, USA
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Puig-Perez S, Kozusznik M, Pulopulos M. Optimism as a key factor in coping with the common cold. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 37:100748. [PMID: 38524895 PMCID: PMC10957377 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The optimism trait is considered one of the most important psychological factors in protecting and promoting health. This study aims to investigate whether trait optimism may help to cope better with the common cold by reducing the subjective perception of cold symptoms and affecting the immune response. Methods To do so, 212 volunteers from the Pittsburg Cold Study 3 within the Common Cold Project were exposed to Rhinovirus (RV39). On the 5 days following the inoculation, a daily symptoms scale, nasal wash, and blood samples were collected to assess Jackson Symptoms (nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, chills, and malaise) and control the Immune System response to infection (concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-α). Results Results showed that approximately 30% of the inoculated participants were finally diagnosed with a common cold, showing higher Jackson Symptom severity and Immune System Response (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNFα and IFNα). Importantly, moderation regression analyses showed that higher optimism scores were related to lower Jackson Symptom severity and TNFα response to infection in cold-diagnosed participants. Conclusions Our results provide important evidence for the protective role of optimism, a trait factor that promotes a better perception of wellbeing and less need for immune system resources to successfully cope with the common cold.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Puig-Perez
- Sara Puig Pérez: Research Group for Psychology and Quality of Life (PsiCal), Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain
| | - M.W. Kozusznik
- Malgorzata Wanda Kozusznik: Department of Marketing, Innovation and Organization, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - M.M. Pulopulos
- Matias Miguel Pulopulos Tripiana: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
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Qiao Z, Poppelaars ES, Li X. In the anticipation of threat: Neural regulatory activity indicated by delta-beta correlation and its relation to anxiety. Biol Psychol 2024; 187:108769. [PMID: 38447860 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The anticipation of oncoming threats is emotionally challenging and related to anxiety. The current study aimed to investigate the neural regulatory processes during the anticipatory preparations in stressful situations in relation to trait anxiety, especially in an uncertainty-related stressful situation. To this end, we measured within-subjects delta-beta amplitude-amplitude correlation (AAC) and phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) with electroencephalography using a well-defined stress-inducing paradigm in 28 high-trait-anxiety (HTA) and 29 low-trait-anxiety (LTA) college students. Specifically, a threat probability task was conducted, where participants anticipated the future stimuli under the uncertain (i.e., an average of 50% electric shocks), certain (i.e., 100% electric shocks) and no threat conditions, as well as a resting state task. Results showed a generally larger delta-beta AAC in the LTA group relative to the HTA group across conditions, supporting the hypothesis that delta-beta AAC reflects the efficiency of stress regulation and trait anxiety could compromise this adaptive regulatory activity. Furthermore, a larger delta-beta PAC was found under the uncertain threat condition relative to the no threat condition, indicating the sensitivity of delta-beta PAC in reflecting state anxiety. These findings indicate that while delta-beta AAC is more related to trait anxiety and could distinguish between high and low trait anxiety irrespective of conditions, delta-beta PAC is more related to state anxiety and is sensitive enough to detect the uncertainty-related anxious state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiling Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Psychiatry, Center for Clinical Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | | | - Xuebing Li
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Luo Y, Li J, Zhang Y, Pan W. The scalp prefrontal-limbic functional connectivity moderates stress-related rumination effects on stress recovery. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14462. [PMID: 37990390 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mood disorders are often associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction, and rumination has been implicated in delayed cortisol recovery. However, research findings on the impact of rumination on cortisol recovery have been inconsistent. The moderating effects of scalp prefrontal-limbic connections on the relationship between rumination and cortisol recovery may explain these discrepancies. METHOD Acute stress was induced by a 5-min simulated job interview. Salivary samples and affective ratings were collected at seven pre-determined time points. After the simulated job interview, 35 healthy adult participants were randomly assigned to either the rumination condition (n = 17) or the distraction condition (n = 18). RESULTS Inducing stress and rumination led to increased cortisol levels, negative mood, and state rumination. Compared with the distraction group, the rumination group displayed delayed cortisol recovery and decreased scalp prefrontal-limbic connectivities, that is, left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (LVLPFC) and left temporal area (LTMP) [ps < .05], and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (RDLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) [ps < .05]. The relationship between rumination and cortisol recovery was moderated by connectivities between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) and LTMP, RDLPFC and LTMP, LDLPFC and ACC, and RDLPFC and ACC [B = -0.98 to -0.35, SE = 0.15-0.34, ps < .05]. Higher rumination combined with reduced scalp prefrontal-limbic connectivities to predict delayed cortisol recovery. CONCLUSION The current findings suggest that scalp prefrontal-limbic connectivity is a neural underpinning related to emotion regulation for the effects of state rumination on stress recovery. These findings also provide a potential target for non-invasive intervention in HPA axis dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Luo
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jinjin Li
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Wenhao Pan
- School of Public Administration, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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Mattioni L, Spada MM, Ferri F, Sestieri C. The relationship between perseverative thinking, proactive control, and inhibition in psychological distress: a study in a women's cohort. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19319. [PMID: 37935825 PMCID: PMC10630504 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46713-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive control is a core feature of several mental disorders. A recent account poses that health problems may derive from proactive forms of cognitive control that maintain stress representation over time. The working hypothesis of the present study is that psychological distress is caused by the tendency to select a particular maladaptive self-regulation strategy over time, namely perseverative thinking, rather than by transient stimulus-response patterns. To test this hypothesis, we asked 84 women to carry out a battery of standardized questionnaires regarding their tendency to undertake perseverative thinking and their level of psychological distress, followed by cognitive tasks measuring the tendency to use proactive versus reactive control modality and disinhibition. Through a series of mediation analyses, we demonstrate that the tendency to use proactive control correlates with psychological distress and that this relation is mediated by perseverative thinking. Moreover, we show that the relation between low inhibitory control and psychological stress is more strongly mediated by perseverative thinking than impulsiveness, a classical construct that focuses on more transient reactions to stimuli. The present results underline the importance of considering psychological distress as the consequence of a maladaptive way of applying control over time, rather than the result of a general deficit in cognitive control abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Mattioni
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences - and ITAB, Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University G. d'Annunzio di Chieti-Pescara, Via Dei Vestini 11, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
| | | | - Francesca Ferri
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences - and ITAB, Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University G. d'Annunzio di Chieti-Pescara, Via Dei Vestini 11, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Carlo Sestieri
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences - and ITAB, Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University G. d'Annunzio di Chieti-Pescara, Via Dei Vestini 11, 66100, Chieti, Italy
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Vanderhasselt MA, Sanchez-Lopez A, Pulopulos M, Razza LB, De Smet S, Brunoni AR, Baeken C, De Raedt R, Allaert J. Prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation over the right prefrontal cortex reduces proactive and reactive control performance towards emotional material in healthy individuals. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2023; 23:100384. [PMID: 36922929 PMCID: PMC10009075 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2023.100384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in cognitive processes, both during anticipatory and reactive modes of cognitive control. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) can modulate these cognitive resources. However, there is a lack of research exploring the impact of tDCS on emotional material processing in the prefrontal cortex, particularly in regard to proactive and reactive modes of cognitive control. In this study, 35 healthy volunteers underwent both real and sham tDCS applied to the right prefrontal cortex in a counterbalanced order, and then completed the Cued Emotion Control Task (CECT). Pupil dilation, a measure of cognitive resource allocation, and behavioral outcomes, such as reaction time and accuracy, were collected. The results indicate that, as compared to sham stimulation, active right-sided tDCS reduced performance and resource allocation in both proactive and reactive modes of cognitive control. These findings highlight the importance of further research on the effects of tDCS applied to the right prefrontal cortex on cognitive engagement, particularly for clinical trials utilizing the present electrode montage in combination with cognitive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alvaro Sanchez-Lopez
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Clinical Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
| | - Matias Pulopulos
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lais B. Razza
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefanie De Smet
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent, Belgium
| | - André Russowsky Brunoni
- Serviço Interdisciplinar de Neuromodulação, Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM-27), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo & Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof Lineu Prestes 2565, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent, Belgium
- Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB): Department of Psychiatry (UZBrussel), Belgium
- Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, the Netherlands
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jens Allaert
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Mertens MG, Struyf F, Verborgt O, Dueñas L, Balasch-Bernat M, Navarro-Ledesma S, Fernandez-Sanchez M, Luque-Suarez A, Lluch Girbes E, Meeus M. Exploration of the clinical course and longitudinal correlations in frozen shoulder: The role of autonomic function, central pain processing, and psychological variables. A longitudinal multicenter prospective observational study. Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2023; 67:102857. [PMID: 37725869 DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altered central pain processing (CPP) and dysautonomia might play a role in the clinical course of frozen shoulder and psychological factors, like pain catastrophizing and hypervigilance, might influence clinical variables in frozen shoulder. OBJECTIVES To explore the clinical course of frozen shoulder regarding CPP, dysautonomia, pain catastrophizing, and hypervigilance and to explore whether longitudinal correlations between these outcomes and pain intensity were present. DESIGN prospective longitudinal observational study. METHOD Participants with frozen shoulder were recruited at hospitals and general practitioner practices and followed for 9 months. They completed six questionnaires (about demographics, shoulder pain and disability, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, pain hypervigilance, and autonomic symptoms) and underwent tactile sensitivity (allodynia), pressure pain thresholds (hyperalgesia), temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation during four timeframes (3-month intervals). RESULTS Initially, 149 participants with frozen shoulder were recruited and 88 completed all the measurements. An improvement from baseline to at least one follow-up measurement was found for shoulder pain and disability, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, hypervigilance, and dysautonomia. A fair longitudinal correlation was found between pain intensity and catastrophizing and hypervigilance (r = 0.301-0.397). Poor longitudinal correlations were found between pain intensity and allodynia and hyperalgesia (r = -0.180-0.193), between pain catastrophizing and dysautonomia (r = 0.209) and between hypervigilance and hyperalgesia (r = -0.159). CONCLUSION Patients with frozen shoulder showed an early improvement that flattened with time in several pain and psychological variables over the course of 9 months. However, autonomic symptoms rather showed a late improvement over 9 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Gcam Mertens
- Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Filip Struyf
- Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Olivier Verborgt
- Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, AZ Monica, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital (UZA), Edegem, Belgium.
| | - Lirios Dueñas
- Physiotherapy in Motion, Multi-Specialty Research Group (PTinMOTION), Department of Physical Therapy, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Mercè Balasch-Bernat
- Physiotherapy in Motion, Multi-Specialty Research Group (PTinMOTION), Department of Physical Therapy, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Santiago Navarro-Ledesma
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus of Melilla, University of Granada, Querol Street 5, 52004, Melilla, Spain.
| | | | | | - Enrique Lluch Girbes
- Pain in Motion International Research Group(1), Belgium; Physiotherapy in Motion, Multi-Specialty Research Group (PTinMOTION), Department of Physical Therapy, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain; Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Mira Meeus
- Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; Pain in Motion International Research Group(1), Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Cohen JE, Holsen LM, Ironside M, Moser AD, Duda JM, Null KE, Perlo S, Richards CE, Nascimento NF, Du F, Zuo C, Misra M, Pizzagalli DA, Goldstein JM. Neural response to stress differs by sex in young adulthood. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2023; 332:111646. [PMID: 37146439 PMCID: PMC10247431 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Increase in stress-related disorders in women begins post-puberty and persists throughout the lifespan. To characterize sex differences in stress response in early adulthood, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging while participants underwent a stress task in conjunction with serum cortisol levels and questionnaires assessing anxiety and mood. Forty-two healthy subjects aged 18-25 years participated (21M, 21F). Interaction of stress and sex in brain activation and connectivity were examined. Results demonstrated significant sex differences in brain activity with women exhibiting increased activation in regions that inhibit arousal compared to men during the stress paradigm. Women had increased connectivity among stress circuitry regions and default mode network, whereas men had increased connectivity between stress and cognitive control regions. In a subset of subjects (13F, 17M), we obtained gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) magnetic resonance spectroscopy in rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rostral ACC) and dorsolateral prefrotal cortex (dlPFC) and conducted exploratory analyses to relate GABA measurements with sex differences in brain activation and connectivity. Prefrontal GABA levels were negatively associated with inferior temporal gyrus activation in men and women and with ventromedial prefrontal cortex activation in men. Despite sex differences in neural response, we found similar subjective ratings of anxiety and mood, cortisol levels, and GABA levels between sexes, suggesting sex differences in brain activity result in similar behavioral responses among the sexes. These results help establish sex differences in healthy brain activity from which we can better understand sex differences underlying stress-associated illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine E Cohen
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - Laura M Holsen
- Divison of Women's Health, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Ironside
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Amelia D Moser
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Jessica M Duda
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Kaylee E Null
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Perlo
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Christine E Richards
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Nara F Nascimento
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Fei Du
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Chun Zuo
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Madhusmita Misra
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Diego A Pizzagalli
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Jill M Goldstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA; Divison of Women's Health, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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10
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Forster A, Rodrigues J, Ziebell P, Sanguinetti JL, Allen JJB, Hewig J. Transcranial focused ultrasound modulates the emergence of learned helplessness via midline theta modification. J Affect Disord 2023; 329:273-284. [PMID: 36842652 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helplessness and hopelessness are states closely related to depressive disorders. They ensue following the anticipated absence of valid behavioral options to alleviate an aversive state. One neural structure involved in the detection of such options, is the cingulate cortex (CC), which conveys the evaluation of behavior against the value of its outcome. Accordingly, CC-related EEG measures are thought to correlate to feedback evaluation but also to anxious and conflict-related states, signaling the need for further adaptation to current requirements. Against this background, this study investigated the role of CC functioning in the emergence and prevention of helpless/hopeless states by applying low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (litFUS) neuromodulation prior to a learned helplessness task. METHOD In a randomized controlled double blind experimental setup with 55 participants, litFUS was used to inhibit the right lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC), a region closely connected to CC modulation. Participants were instructed to play 8 games of chess against a computer that was unbeatable to them, while an EEG was recorded. Theta oscillation in midline electrodes, playing performance and self-rate measures on cognitive, affective and physiological parameters were assessed. RESULTS The results show a considerable influence of litFUS neuromodulation of the lPFC on midline theta activity (Fz and Pz electrode position) which in turn correlated to several psychological variables including self-report data on emotion, cognition, and arousal as well as behavioral measures (playing performance). LIMITATIONS Due to the small sample size and sample characteristics, results cannot be generalized to the field of clinical application. A replication of results in larger samples and in context of other sonication parameters is needed to increase the robustness of results and to maximize the efficacy of litFUS application. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the development of learned helplessness/hopelessness could be positively influenced in its course by litFUS neuromodulation of the right lPFC. In line with previous results, especially the posterior midline electrode Pz seems to be an interesting target for further research in this field as theta activity at this electrode is correlated to control perception and motivated behavior. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use neuromodulation to monitor and manipulate the development of helplessness in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Forster
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Marcusstraße 9-11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Johannes Rodrigues
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Marcusstraße 9-11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Philipp Ziebell
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Marcusstraße 9-11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
| | | | | | - Johannes Hewig
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Marcusstraße 9-11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
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Patelaki E, Foxe JJ, Mantel EP, Kassis G, Freedman EG. Paradoxical improvement of cognitive control in older adults under dual-task walking conditions is associated with more flexible reallocation of neural resources: A Mobile Brain-Body Imaging (MoBI) study. Neuroimage 2023; 273:120098. [PMID: 37037381 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Combining walking with a demanding cognitive task is traditionally expected to elicit decrements in gait and/or cognitive task performance. However, it was recently shown that, in a cohort of young adults, most participants improved performance when walking was added to performance of a Go/NoGo response inhibition task. The present study aims to extend these previous findings to an older adult cohort, to investigate whether this improvement when dual-tasking is observed in healthy older adults. Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI) was used to record electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, three-dimensional (3D) gait kinematics and behavioral responses in the Go/NoGo task, during sitting or walking on a treadmill, in 34 young adults and 37 older adults. Increased response accuracy during walking, independent of age, was found to correlate with slower responses to stimuli (r = 0.44) and with walking-related EEG amplitude modulations over frontocentral regions (r = 0.47) during the sensory gating (N1) and conflict monitoring (N2) stages of inhibition, and over left-lateralized prefrontal regions (r = 0.47) during the stage of inhibitory control implementation. These neural activity changes are related to the cognitive component of inhibition, and they were interpreted as signatures of behavioral improvement during walking. On the other hand, aging, independent of response accuracy during walking, was found to correlate with slower treadmill walking speeds (r = -0.68) and attenuation in walking-related EEG amplitude modulations over left-dominant frontal (r = -0.44) and parietooccipital regions (r = 0.48) during the N2 stage, and over centroparietal regions (r = 0.48) during the P3 stage. These neural activity changes are related to the motor component of inhibition, and they were interpreted as signatures of aging. Older adults whose response accuracy 'paradoxically' improved during walking manifested neural signatures of both behavioral improvement and aging, suggesting that their flexibility in reallocating neural resources while walking might be maintained for the cognitive but not for the motor inhibitory component. These distinct neural signatures of aging and behavior can potentially be used to identify 'super-agers', or individuals at risk for cognitive decline due to aging or neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Patelaki
- The Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, 201 Robert B. Goergen Hall Rochester, New York, 14627, USA
| | - John J Foxe
- The Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
| | - Emma P Mantel
- The Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - George Kassis
- The Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - Edward G Freedman
- The Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
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12
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Bürger Z, Müller VI, Hoffstaedter F, Habel U, Gur RC, Windischberger C, Moser E, Derntl B, Kogler L. Stressor-Specific Sex Differences in Amygdala-Frontal Cortex Networks. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12030865. [PMID: 36769521 PMCID: PMC9918214 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12030865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Females and males differ in stress reactivity, coping, and the prevalence rates of stress-related disorders. According to a neurocognitive framework of stress coping, the functional connectivity between the amygdala and frontal regions (including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vACC), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)) plays a key role in how people deal with stress. In the current study, we investigated the effects of sex and stressor type in a within-subject counterbalanced design on the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the amygdala and these frontal regions in 77 healthy participants (40 females). Both stressor types led to changes in subjective ratings, with decreasing positive affect and increasing negative affect and anger. Females showed higher amygdala-vACC and amygdala-mPFC rsFC for social exclusion than for achievement stress, and compared to males. Whereas a higher amygdala-vACC rsFC indicates the activation of emotion processing and coping, a higher amygdala-mPFC rsFC indicates feelings of reward and social gain, highlighting the positive effects of social affiliation. Thus, for females, feeling socially affiliated might be more fundamental than for males. Our data indicate interactions of sex and stressor in amygdala-frontal coupling, which translationally contributes to a better understanding of the sex differences in prevalence rates and stress coping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoé Bürger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Centre for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Correspondence: (Z.B.); (L.K.); Tel.: +49-(0)-707129-85736 (Z.B.)
| | - Veronika I. Müller
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-7, Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Felix Hoffstaedter
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-7, Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- JARA BRAIN Institute I, Translational Brain Medicine, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Ruben C. Gur
- Neuropsychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christian Windischberger
- High-Field MR Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ewald Moser
- High-Field MR Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Centre for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- LEAD Graduate School and Research Network, University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lydia Kogler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Centre for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Correspondence: (Z.B.); (L.K.); Tel.: +49-(0)-707129-85736 (Z.B.)
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13
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Personality traits affect anticipatory stress vulnerability and coping effectiveness in occupational critical care situations. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20965. [PMID: 36470906 PMCID: PMC9722917 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24905-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed at investigating the influence of personality on both anticipatory stress vulnerability and the effectiveness of coping strategies in an occupational stressful context. Following assessment of individual personality traits (Big Five Inventory), 147 volunteers were exposed to the anticipation of a stressful event. Anxiety and cardiac reactivity were assessed as markers of vulnerability to anticipatory stress. Participants were then randomly assigned to three groups and subjected to a 5-min intervention: relaxation breathing, relaxation breathing combined with cardiac biofeedback, and control. The effectiveness of coping interventions was determined through the cardiac coherence score achieved during the intervention. Higher neuroticism was associated with higher anticipatory stress vulnerability, whereas higher conscientiousness and extraversion were related to lower anticipatory stress vulnerability. Relaxation breathing and biofeedback coping interventions contributed to improve the cardiac coherence in all participants, albeit with greater effectiveness in individuals presenting higher score of openness to experience. The present findings demonstrated that personality traits are related to both anticipatory stress vulnerability and effectiveness of coping interventions. These results bring new insights into practical guidelines for stress prevention by considering personality traits. Specific practical applications for health professionals, who are likely to manage stressful situations daily, are discussed.
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14
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Bigliassi M, Filho E. Functional significance of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during exhaustive exercise. Biol Psychol 2022; 175:108442. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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The interplay between self-esteem, expectancy, cognitive control, rumination, and the experience of stress: A network analysis. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-02840-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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16
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Popovic D, Damjanovic S, Popovic B, Kocijancic A, Labudović D, Seman S, Stojiljković S, Tesic M, Arena R, Lasica R. Physiological behavior during stress anticipation across different chronic stress exposure adaptive models. Stress 2022; 25:14-21. [PMID: 34904527 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2021.2006178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Anticipation of stress induces physiological, behavioral and cognitive adjustments that are required for an appropriate response to the upcoming situation. Additional research examining the response of cardiopulmonary parameters and stress hormones during anticipation of stress in different chronic stress adaptive models is needed. As an addition to our previous research, a total of 57 subjects (16 elite male wrestlers, 21 water polo player and 20 sedentary subjects matched for age) were analyzed. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a treadmill was used as the laboratory stress model; peak oxygen consumption (VO2) was obtained during CPET. Plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and N-terminal-pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) were measured by radioimmunometric, radioimmunoassay and immunoassay sandwich technique, respectively, together with cardiopulmonary measurements, 10 minutes pre-CPET and at the initiation of CPET. The response of diastolic blood pressure and heart rate was different between groups during stress anticipation (p = 0.019, 0.049, respectively), while systolic blood pressure, peak VO2 and carbon-dioxide production responses were similar. ACTH and cortisol increased during the experimental condition, NT-pro-BNP decreased and alpha-MSH remained unchanged. All groups had similar hormonal responses during stress anticipation with the exception of the ACTH/cortisol ratio. In all three groups, ΔNT-pro-BNP during stress anticipation was the best independent predictor of peak VO2 (B = 36.01, r = 0.37, p = 0.001). In conclusion, the type of chronic stress exposure influences the hemodynamic response during anticipation of physical stress and the path of hormonal stress axis activation. Stress hormones released during stress anticipation may hold predictive value for overall cardiopulmonary performance during the stress condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejana Popovic
- Division of Cardiology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Svetozar Damjanovic
- Division of Endocrinology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Bojana Popovic
- Division of Endocrinology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Dragana Labudović
- Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Stefan Seman
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Milorad Tesic
- Division of Cardiology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ross Arena
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ratko Lasica
- Division of Cardiology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
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17
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Dynamic changes of large-scale resting-state functional networks in major depressive disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 111:110369. [PMID: 34062173 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Sliding window method is widely used to study the functional connectivity dynamics in brain networks. A key issue of this method is how to choose the window length and number of clusters across different window length. Here, we introduced a universal method to determine the optimal window length and number of clusters and applied it to study the dynamic functional network connectivity (FNC) in major depressive disorder (MDD). Specifically, we first extracted the resting-state networks (RSNs) in 27 medication-free MDD patients and 54 healthy controls using group independent component analysis (ICA), and constructed the dynamic FNC patterns for each subject in the window range of 10-80 repetition times (TRs) using sliding window method. Then, litekmeans algorithm was utilized to cluster the FNC patterns corresponding to each window length into 2-20 clusters. The optimal number of clusters was determined by voting method and the optimal window length was determined by identifying the most representative window length. Finally, 8 recurring FNC patterns regarded as FNC states were captured for further analyzing the dynamic attributes. Our results revealed that MDD patients showed increased mean dwell time and fraction of time spent in state #5, and the mean dwell time is correlated with depression symptom load. Additionally, compared with healthy controls, MDD patients had significantly reduced FNC within FPN in state #7. Our study reported a new approach to determine the optimal window length and number of clusters, which may facilitate the future study of the functional dynamics. These findings about MDD using dynamic FNC analyses provide new evidence to better understand the neuropathology of MDD.
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18
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Pulopulos MM, Boccagno C, De Raedt R, Hooley JM. Attenuated beta-adrenergic response to stress and increased anticipation and perception of social threat in women high on perceived criticism. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 133:105421. [PMID: 34592505 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
A large amount of literature has demonstrated that Perceived Criticism (PC)-that is, how critical a person believes a given relative is of him or her-is associated with negative clinical outcomes in a broad range of psychiatric disorders (e.g., relapse or recurrence of symptoms). A possible mechanism behind the predictive value of PC might be its association with the stress regulation process. This is the first study to investigate differences in the psychophysiological response to a social stress task in young women (mean age = 21.66, SD = 4.33) with high (n = 40) and low (n = 39) PC. The physiological response was investigated by measuring two markers of sympathetic activity mediated by acetylcholine (skin conductance levels; SCL) and adrenaline (pre-ejection period; PEP) levels, respectively, and one marker of the vagally-mediated parasympathetic system (heart rate variability; HRV). Moreover, we investigated the anticipation and perception of social threat, in the form of criticism, during the stressor. No differences in HRV and SCL were observed. However, individuals high in PC mobilized fewer cardiovascular resources to deal with the stressor, reflected in an attenuated beta-adrenergic response (i.e., lower PEP response). Women high in PC also expected and perceived more criticism during the stress task. Together, our results indicate that women high in PC make heightened social threat anticipation and interpretations, and they tend to engage in less active coping when exposed to socially evaluated stressful events. Our findings indicate that PC is associated with underlying stress-related psychobiological vulnerabilities that may contribute to its association with negative clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias M Pulopulos
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium; Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Psychology, Harvard University, USA.
| | | | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
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19
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Allaert J, Erdogan M, Sanchez-Lopez A, Baeken C, De Raedt R, Vanderhasselt MA. Prefrontal tDCS Attenuates Self-Referential Attentional Deployment: A Mechanism Underlying Adaptive Emotional Reactivity to Social-Evaluative Threat. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:700557. [PMID: 34483865 PMCID: PMC8416079 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.700557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social-evaluative threat (SET) - a situation in which one could be negatively evaluated by others - elicits profound (psycho)physiological reactivity which, if chronically present and not adaptively regulated, has deleterious effects on mental and physical health. Decreased self-awareness and increased other-awareness are understood to be an adaptive response to SET. Attentional deployment - the process of selectively attending to certain aspects of emotional stimuli to modulate emotional reactivity - is supported by fronto-parietal and fronto-limbic networks, with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex being a central hub. The primary aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of active (versus sham) prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on self and other-attentional deployment during the exposure to a SET context. Seventy-four female participants received active or sham tDCS and were subsequently exposed to a rigged social feedback paradigm. In this paradigm a series of social evaluations were presented together with a photograph of the supposed evaluator and a self- photograph of the participant, while gaze behavior (time to first fixation, total fixation time) and skin conductance responses (SCRs; a marker of emotional reactivity) were measured. For half of the evaluations, participants could anticipate the valence (negative or positive) of the evaluation a priori. Analyses showed that participants receiving active tDCS were (a) slower to fixate on their self-photograph, (b) spent less time fixating on their self-photograph, and (c) spent more time fixating on the evaluator photograph. During unanticipated evaluations, active tDCS was associated with less time spent fixating on the evaluation. Furthermore, among those receiving active tDCS, SCRs were attenuated as a function of slower times to fixate on the self-photograph. Taken together, these results suggest that in a context of SET, prefrontal tDCS decreases self-attention while increasing other-attention, and that attenuated self-referential attention specifically may be a neurocognitive mechanism through which tDCS reduces emotional reactivity. Moreover, the results suggest that tDCS reduces vigilance toward stimuli that possibly convey threatening information, corroborating past research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Allaert
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry Lab, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium
- Psychopathology and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maide Erdogan
- Research in Developmental Disorders Lab, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alvaro Sanchez-Lopez
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Chris Baeken
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry Lab, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Psychopathology and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry Lab, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium
- Psychopathology and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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20
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Flores-Kanter PE, Moretti L, Medrano LA. A narrative review of emotion regulation process in stress and recovery phases. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07218. [PMID: 34179528 PMCID: PMC8213899 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The difficulty in studying the relationship between stress and emotional regulation is due to the need to contemplate a dynamic perspective that analyzes the moderating role of stress. In fact, stress involves different phases or stages, and the neurocognitive processes involved in emotion regulation differ significantly between these phases. The period of anticipation of stressful events can be fundamental to understand the process of stress regulation; however, surprisingly few works have analyzed the differential activation of brain networks involved in cognitive regulation during the phases of stress and recovery. Taking this into consideration, within this study we propose to analyze in an integrated way the psychological and neurobiological processes during the phase of stress and recovery, with the aim of improving our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie successful and unsuccessful stress regulation. We consider that from the present review we contribute to achieve a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying successful and unsuccessful stress regulation would contribute to the improvement of prevention and treatment interventions for mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Ezequiel Flores-Kanter
- Universidad Siglo 21, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Luciana Moretti
- Universidad Siglo 21, Argentina.,Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, República Dominicana
| | - Leonardo Adrián Medrano
- Universidad Siglo 21, Argentina.,Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, República Dominicana
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21
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Hilgarter K, Schmid-Zalaudek K, Csanády-Leitner R, Mörtl M, Rössler A, Lackner HK. Phasic heart rate variability and the association with cognitive performance: A cross-sectional study in a healthy population setting. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246968. [PMID: 33647023 PMCID: PMC7920382 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sympathovagal balance measured by heart rate variability is a core component of psychophysiological research. Through the close link of physiological and psychological aspects, often a reduced heart rate variability is associated with impaired cognitive function. A better understanding of the associations between cognitive and cardiovascular dysfunctions is necessary to prevent the manifestation of diseases. Therefore, this study investigated phasic heart rate variability using rest, anticipatory, stress, and recovery periods and the association with high and low cognitive performance in a generally healthy population setting. Methods 114 healthy individuals (40 males, 74 females) aged 20 to 70 participated in the cross-sectional study. The heart rate variability based on standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), and the root means square of successive differences (RMSSD), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) and LF/HF ratio and its association with high and low cognitive performance measured by the California Verbal Learning Task II were examined. Results The results of this study indicate that the paradigm was successful in producing stress and showed a significant association between phasic heart rate variability (SDNN) and verbal episodic memory performance, irrespective of age and sex. Discussion The results of this study suggest that a reduced heart rate variability is associated with reduced cognitive function regardless of age and sex and seem to be an early indicator of sympathovagal disbalance. Conclusion This leads to the conclusion that differences between high and low cognitive performance might show differences in heart rate variability at an early stage, where no diseases are yet manifest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Hilgarter
- Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Centre, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Karin Schmid-Zalaudek
- Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Centre, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Regina Csanády-Leitner
- Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Centre, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Manfred Mörtl
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Centre Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria
| | - Andreas Rössler
- Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Centre, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Helmut Karl Lackner
- Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Centre, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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22
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Nasso S, Vanderhasselt MA, De Raedt R. Testing the neurocognitive framework for regulation expectation: The relationship between actual/ideal self-esteem and proactive/reactive autonomic stress regulation. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2020; 69:101598. [PMID: 32819538 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2020.101598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES According to the Neurocognitive Framework for Regulation Expectation (NFRE), actual and ideal self-esteem are related to how individuals anticipate and respond to a stressful event. Based on this framework, we investigated whether in individuals with low ideal self-esteem (moderator), a positive relationship between actual self-esteem and reactive autonomic regulation would be mediated by the amount of anticipatory autonomic regulation. METHODS Forty-five healthy females prepared a speech (i.e., anticipation) and performed it in front of a camera (i.e., stressor). Actual and ideal self-esteem were measured with the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure. Anticipatory and reactive autonomic stress regulation were indexed by heart rate variability, and affective responses were assessed via self-report. RESULTS Results were in line with predictions based on the NFRE: when ideal self-esteem was low, higher actual self-esteem was associated with higher reactive autonomic regulation, and this association was mediated by higher anticipatory autonomic regulation. LIMITATIONS Because only female undergraduates were recruited, replication within a more heterogeneous sample is necessary to further generalize these findings. CONCLUSIONS These results support the hypothesis, based on the NFRE, that actual and ideal self-esteem interact in predicting the relationship between anticipatory and reactive stress regulation, and are a step forward in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying successful stress regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Nasso
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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23
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Chang Y, Wang Y, Mei S, Yi W, Zheng Y. Blunted neural effects of perceived control on reward feedback in major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 2020; 276:112-118. [PMID: 32697689 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blunted reward processing has emerged as an endophenotype of major depressive disorder (MDD), but mechanistic understanding for this deficit remains elusive. The current event-related potential study examined whether this aberration is driven by the blunted effect of perceived control on reward processing. METHODS We adapted a well-validated gambling task in which perceived control was exercised by choice in 29 individuals with current MDD and 31 healthy controls. We examined the reward positivity in response to personally chosen versus passively received rewards. RESULTS We found that MDD patients relative to healthy controls exhibited a blunted reward positivity when rewards were delivered following voluntary choices but not when they were delivered following passive choices. This pattern was not observed during the relatively late stage, as indexed by the P300, of feedback processing. LIMITATION The current findings may be confounded with medication and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that deficient reward processing in MDD is attributable to the deficiency in boosting reward responsivity by perceived control exercised by choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Chang
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Shuting Mei
- Department of Psychology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Wei Yi
- Department of Psychology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ya Zheng
- Department of Psychology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
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Pollak A, Paliga M, Pulopulos MM, Kozusznik B, Kozusznik MW. Stress in manual and autonomous modes of collaboration with a cobot. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2020.106469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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25
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de Wandel L, Pulopulos MM, Labanauskas V, de Witte S, Vanderhasselt MA, Baeken C. Individual resting-state frontocingular functional connectivity predicts the intermittent theta burst stimulation response to stress in healthy female volunteers. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:5301-5312. [PMID: 33010200 PMCID: PMC7670632 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) delivered to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been investigated as a promising treatment for stress and stress‐related mental disorders such as major depression, yet large individual differences in responsiveness demand further exploration and optimization of its effectiveness. Clinical research suggests that resting‐state functional connectivity (rsFC) between the DLPFC and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) can predict iTBS treatment response in depression. The present study aimed to investigate whether rsFC between the left DLPFC and ACC subregions could predict the degree to which the stress system is affected by iTBS. After assessment of baseline resting‐state fMRI data, 34 healthy female participants performed the Trier Social Stress Test on two separate days, each followed by active or sham iTBS over the left DLPFC. To evaluate iTBS effects on the stress‐system, salivary cortisol was measured throughout the procedure. Our results showed that a stronger negative correlation between the left DLPFC and the caudal ACC was linked to a larger attenuation of stress‐system sensitivity during active, but not during sham iTBS. In conclusion, based on individual rsFC between left DLPFC and caudal ACC, iTBS could be optimized to more effectively attenuate deregulation of the stress system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linde de Wandel
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Matias M Pulopulos
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Psychobiology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vytautas Labanauskas
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sara de Witte
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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26
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Pearman A, Hughes ML, Smith EL, Neupert SD. Mental Health Challenges of United States Healthcare Professionals During COVID-19. Front Psychol 2020; 11:2065. [PMID: 32903586 PMCID: PMC7438566 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
As COVID-19 continues to impact global society, healthcare professionals (HCPs) are at risk for a number of negative well-being outcomes due to their role as care providers. The objective of this study was to better understand the current psychological impact of COVID-19 on HCPs in the United States This study used an online survey tool to collect demographic data and measures of well-being of adults age 18 and older living in the United States between March 20, 2020 and May 14, 2020. Measures included anxiety and stress related to COVID-19, depressive symptoms, current general anxiety, health questions, tiredness, control beliefs, proactive coping, and past and future appraisals of COVID-related stress. The sample included 90 HCPs and 90 age-matched controls (Mage = 34.72 years, SD = 9.84, range = 23 – 67) from 35 states of the United States. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed, using education as a covariate, to identify group differences in the mental and physical health measures. HCPs reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, past and future appraisal of COVID-related stress, concern about their health, tiredness, current general anxiety, and constraint, in addition to lower levels of proactive coping compared to those who were not HCPs (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.28). Within the context of this pandemic, HCPs were at increased risk for a number of negative well-being outcomes. Potential targets, such as adaptive coping training, for intervention are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Pearman
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - MacKenzie L Hughes
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Emily L Smith
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Shevaun D Neupert
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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27
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Pulopulos MM, Schmausser M, De Smet S, Vanderhasselt MA, Baliyan S, Venero C, Baeken C, De Raedt R. The effect of HF-rTMS over the left DLPFC on stress regulation as measured by cortisol and heart rate variability. Horm Behav 2020; 124:104803. [PMID: 32526225 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex, and especially the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC), plays an inhibitory role in the regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis under stressful situations. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that a sustained DLPFC activation is associated with adaptive stress regulation in anticipation of a stressful event, leading to a reduced stress-induced amygdala response, and facilitating the confrontation with the stressor. However, studies using experimental manipulation of the activity of the DLPFC before a stressor are scarce, and more research is needed to understand the specific role of this brain area in the stress-induced physiological response. This pre-registered study investigated the effect on stress regulation of a single excitatory high frequency (versus sham) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) session over the left DLPFC applied before the Trier Social Stress Test in 75 healthy young women (M = 21.05, SD = 2.60). Heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary cortisol were assessed throughout the experimental protocol. The active HF-rTMS and the sham group showed a similar cognitive appraisal of the stress task. No differences in HRV were observed during both the anticipation and the actual confrontation with the stress task and therefore, our results did not reflect DLPFC-related adaptive anticipatory adjustments. Importantly, participants in the active HF-rTMS group showed a lower cortisol response to stress. The effect of left prefrontal HF-rTMS on the stress system provides further critical experimental evidence for the inhibitory role played by the DLPFC in the regulation of the HPA axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias M Pulopulos
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium.
| | - Maximilian Schmausser
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Stefanie De Smet
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Belgium
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium; Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Belgium
| | - Shishir Baliyan
- Department of Psychobiology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Spain
| | - César Venero
- Department of Psychobiology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Spain
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Brussels (UZBrussel), Belgium; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
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28
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Pulopulos M, Allaert J, Vanderhasselt MA, Sanchez-Lopez A, De Witte S, Baeken C, De Raedt R. Effects of HF-rTMS over the left and right DLPFC on proactive and reactive cognitive control. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 17:109-119. [PMID: 32613224 PMCID: PMC8824550 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research supports the distinction between proactive and reactive control. Although the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been consistently related to these processes, lateralization of proactive and reactive control is still under debate. We manipulated brain activity to investigate the role of the left and right DLPFC in proactive and reactive cognitive control. Using a single-blind, sham-controlled crossover within-subjects design, 25 young healthy females performed the 'AX' Continuous Performance Task after receiving sham versus active High-Frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (HF-rTMS) to increase left and right DLPFC activity. RTs and pupillometry were used to assess patterns of proactive and reactive cognitive control and task-related resource allocation respectively. We observed that, compared to sham, HF-rTMS over the left DLPFC increased proactive control. After right DLPFC HF-rTMS, participants showed slower RTs on AX trials, suggesting more reactive control. However, this latter result was not supported by RTs on BX trials (i.e. the trial that specifically assess reactive control). Pupil measures showed a sustained increase in resource allocation after both active left and right HF-rTMS. Our results with RT data provide evidence on the role of the left DLPFC in proactive control and suggest that the right DLPFC is implicated in reactive control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias Pulopulos
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Jens Allaert
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium.,Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Belgium
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium.,Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Belgium
| | - Alvaro Sanchez-Lopez
- Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara De Witte
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium.,Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Belgium.,Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Brussels (UZBrussel), Belgium
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
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29
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Allaert J, De Raedt R, Sanchez-Lopez A, Baeken C, Vanderhasselt MA. Mind the social feedback: effects of tDCS applied to the left DLPFC on psychophysiological responses during the anticipation and reception of social evaluations. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 17:131-141. [PMID: 32412085 PMCID: PMC8824563 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) is implicated in anticipatory (i.e. during anticipation of emotional stimuli) and online (i.e. during confrontation with emotional stimuli) emotion regulatory processes. However, research that investigates the causal role of the lDLPFC in these processes is lacking. In this study, 74 participants received active or sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the lDLPFC. Participants were told strangers evaluated them. These (rigged) social evaluations were presented, and in 50% of the trials, participants could anticipate the valence (positive or negative) of the upcoming social feedback. Pupil dilation (a marker of cognitive resource allocation), and skin conductance responses (a marker of arousal) were measured. The results indicate that active (compared to sham) tDCS reduced arousal during the confrontation with anticipated feedback, but only marginally during the confrontation with unanticipated feedback. When participants were given the opportunity to anticipate the social feedback, tDCS reduced arousal, irrespective of whether one was anticipating or being confronted with the anticipated feedback. Moreover, tDCS reduced cognitive resource allocation during anticipation, which was associated with resource allocation increases during the subsequent confrontation. Altogether, results suggest that the lDLPFC is causally implicated in the interplay between anticipatory and online emotion regulatory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Allaert
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), University Hospital UZBrussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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30
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De Raedt R. Contributions from neuroscience to the practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Translational psychological science in service of good practice. Behav Res Ther 2020; 125:103545. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2019.103545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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31
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Pulopulos MM, Baeken C, De Raedt R. Cortisol response to stress: The role of expectancy and anticipatory stress regulation. Horm Behav 2020; 117:104587. [PMID: 31639385 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
An exacerbated physiological response to stress is associated with the development of stress-related disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety disorders). Recently, it has been proposed that individuals with high expectancies of being able to deal with stressful situations will activate regulatory mechanisms during the anticipation of the stressful event that would improve stress regulation. To test this hypothesis, 52 women in young adulthood (M = 21.06; SD = 2.58) anticipated and performed a laboratory-based stress task after receiving positive or negative bogus feedback on their abilities to deal with stressful events. Heart rate variability and salivary cortisol were assessed throughout the experimental protocol. Participants receiving positive bogus feedback (i.e., High Expectancy group) showed a more positive anticipatory cognitive stress appraisal (i.e., they anticipated the stress task as less threatening/challenging, and they perceived that they were more able to deal with it), and they showed a lower cortisol response to stress. Moreover, a more positive anticipatory cognitive stress appraisal was associated with better anticipatory stress regulation (indexed as less decrease in heart rate variability), leading to a lower cortisol response. Our results indicate that people with positive expectancy initiate mechanisms of anticipatory stress regulation that enhance the regulation of the physiological stress response. Expectancy and anticipatory stress regulation may be key mechanisms in the development and treatment of stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias M Pulopulos
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium; Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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32
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Avcu P, Fortress AM, Fragale JE, Spiegler KM, Pang KCH. Anhedonia following mild traumatic brain injury in rats: A behavioral economic analysis of positive and negative reinforcement. Behav Brain Res 2019; 368:111913. [PMID: 30998994 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.111913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders affect nearly 50% of individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Anhedonia is a major symptom of numerous psychiatric disorders and is a diagnostic criterion for depression. It has recently been appreciated that reinforcement may be separated into consummatory (hedonic), motivational and decisional components, all of which may be affected differently in disease. Although anhedonia is typically assessed using positive reinforcement, the importance of stress in psychopathology suggests the study of negative reinforcement (removal or avoidance of aversive events) may be equally important. The present study investigated positive and negative reinforcement following a rat model of mild TBI (mTBI) using lateral fluid percussion. Hedonic value and motivation for reinforcement was determined by behavioral economic analyses. Following mTBI, the hedonic value of avoiding foot shock was reduced. In contrast, the hedonic value of escaping foot shock or obtaining a sucrose pellet was not altered by mTBI. Moreover, motivation to avoid or escape foot shock or to acquire sucrose was not altered by mTBI. Our results suggest that individuals experiencing mTBI find avoidance of aversive events less reinforcing, and therefore are less apt to utilize proactive control of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pelin Avcu
- NeuroBehavioral Research Lab, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, New Jersey, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Ashley M Fortress
- NeuroBehavioral Research Lab, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jennifer E Fragale
- NeuroBehavioral Research Lab, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, New Jersey, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kevin M Spiegler
- NeuroBehavioral Research Lab, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, New Jersey, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kevin C H Pang
- NeuroBehavioral Research Lab, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, New Jersey, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neurosciences, New Jersey Medical School - Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
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33
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Allaert J, Sanchez-Lopez A, De Raedt R, Baeken C, Vanderhasselt MA. Inverse effects of tDCS over the left versus right DLPC on emotional processing: A pupillometry study. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218327. [PMID: 31216313 PMCID: PMC6583989 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives The Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is implicated in cognitive and emotional responses. Yet, research that investigates the causal role of the left versus right DLPFC during the processes of emotion appraisal is lacking. In the current study, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was used to disentangle the functional lateralization of the DLPFC on emotional processing in response to the anticipation of, and subsequent confrontation with emotional stimuli in healthy volunteers. Methods Forty-eight subjects received both active and sham (on separate days) anodal tDCS over either the left (N = 24) or right (N = 24) DLPFC. Subjects’ pupil dilation (PD, a physiological marker of cognitive resource allocation) was recorded while performing an appraisal task in which negative and positive emotion eliciting images were presented, each preceded by an informative cue indicating the valence of the upcoming stimulus. Results As compared to sham stimulation, left DLPFC anodal tDCS resulted in increased PD when confronted with negative emotional images, whereas right DLPFC anodal tDCS resulted in decreased PD when confronted with emotional images, irrespective of valence. Limitations The interpretation of pupil dilation in response to emotional stimuli is limited. Conclusion These findings suggest inverse lateralized DLPFC effects on cognitive resource allocation (as measured by pupillary responses) when confronted with emotional stimuli. The current findings may shed some light on mechanisms that explain the antidepressant effects of non-invasive brain stimulation of the left DLPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Allaert
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Alvaro Sanchez-Lopez
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), University Hospital UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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34
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Motivation and cognitive control in depression. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 102:371-381. [PMID: 31047891 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Depression is linked to deficits in cognitive control and a host of other cognitive impairments arise as a consequence of these deficits. Despite of their important role in depression, there are no mechanistic models of cognitive control deficits in depression. In this paper we propose how these deficits can emerge from the interaction between motivational and cognitive processes. We review depression-related impairments in key components of motivation along with new cognitive neuroscience models that focus on the role of motivation in the decision-making about cognitive control allocation. Based on this review we propose a unifying framework which connects motivational and cognitive control deficits in depression. This framework is rooted in computational models of cognitive control and offers a mechanistic understanding of cognitive control deficits in depression.
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35
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Tsai N, Eccles JS, Jaeggi SM. Stress and executive control: Mechanisms, moderators, and malleability. Brain Cogn 2018; 133:54-59. [PMID: 30396706 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2018.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Stress pervades everyday life and more importantly, affects prefrontal cortices that support executive control functions, processes that are critical to learning and memory as well as a range of life outcomes. The positive or negative effect of stress on cognition depends on an interaction of factors related to the situation and the individual. Research has shown that psychological characteristics related to self-relevance and the availability of resources may lead individuals to perceive a stressor as a threat or challenge, driving performance outcomes. Given that perception is arguably the key to stress reactivity, positive affect and self-belief constructs are discussed in the context of how they may lead to preserved performance in the face of stress. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of stress perception could inform the development of interventions, a socially important endeavor given the impact of stress on health and cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Tsai
- University of California, Irvine, CA, United States.
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36
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Pulopulos MM, Vanderhasselt MA, De Raedt R. Association between changes in heart rate variability during the anticipation of a stressful situation and the stress-induced cortisol response. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 94:63-71. [PMID: 29758470 PMCID: PMC5967249 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Vagal activity - reflecting the activation of stress regulatory mechanisms and prefrontal cortex activation - is thought to play an inhibitory role in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. However, most studies investigating the association between stress-induced changes in heart rate variability (HRV, an index of cardiac vagal tone) and cortisol have shown a non-significant relationship. It has been proposed that physiological changes observed during anticipation of a stressor allow individuals to make behavioral, cognitive, and physiological adjustments that are necessary to deal with the upcoming actual stressor. In this study, in a large sample of 171 healthy adults (96 men and 75 women; mean age = 29.98, SD = 11.07), we investigated whether the cortisol response to a laboratory-based stress task was related to anticipation-induced or stress task-induced changes in HRV. As expected, regression analyses showed that a larger decrease in HRV during the anticipation of a stress task was related to higher stress task-induced cortisol increase, but not cortisol recovery. In line with prior research, the stress task-induced change in HRV was not significantly related to cortisol increase or recovery. Our results show for the first time that anticipatory HRV (reflecting differences in stress regulation and prefrontal activity before the encounter with the stressor) is important to understand the stress-induced cortisol increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias M Pulopulos
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium.
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
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Risk of mortality during and after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami among older coastal residents. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16591. [PMID: 29185489 PMCID: PMC5707380 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16636-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study is a nationwide cohort study of individuals aged 65 years and older established in July 2010. Seven months later, one of the study field sites was directly in the line of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Despite the 1-hour warning interval between the earthquake and tsunami, many coastal residents lost their lives. We analyzed the risk of all-cause mortality on the day of the disaster as well as in the 38-month interval after the disaster. Among 860 participants, 33 (3.8%) died directly because of the tsunami and an additional 95 people died during the 38-month follow-up period. Individuals with depressive symptoms had elevated risk of mortality on the day of the disaster (odds ratio = 3.90 [95% CI: 1.13, 13.47]). More socially connected people also suffered increased risk of mortality, although these estimates were not statistically significant. In contrast, after the disaster, frequent social interactions reverted back to predicting improved survival (hazard ratio = 0.46 (95% CI: 0.26, 0.82)). Depressive symptoms and stronger social connectedness were associated with increased risk of mortality on the day of the disaster. After the disaster, social interactions were linked to improved survival.
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