Cortisol effects on brain functional connectivity during emotion processing in women with depression

Charlene N Rivera-Bonet; Rasmus M Birn; Charlotte O Ladd; Mary E Meyerand; Heather C Abercrombie

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.034

Cortisol effects on brain functional connectivity during emotion processing in women with depression

J Affect Disord. 2021 May 15:287:247-254. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.034. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Authors

Charlene N Rivera-Bonet¹, Rasmus M Birn², Charlotte O Ladd³, Mary E Meyerand⁴, Heather C Abercrombie⁵

Affiliations

¹ Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States. Electronic address: riverabonet@wisc.edu.
² Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
³ Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
⁴ Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
⁵ Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.

Abstract

Background: Depression is associated with altered functional connectivity and altered cortisol sensitivity, but the effects of cortisol on functional connectivity in depression are unknown. Previous research shows that brief cortisol augmentation (CORT) has beneficial neurocognitive effects in depression.

Methods: We investigated the effects of CORT (20mg oral cortisol) on functional connectivity during emotion processing in women with depression. Participants included 75 women with no depression or a depressive disorder. In a double-blind, crossover study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure effects of CORT vs. placebo on task-based functional connectivity during presentation of emotionally-laden images. We performed psychophysiological interaction (PPI) to test interactions among depression severity, cortisol administration, and task-dependent functional connectivity using the hippocampus and amygdala as seeds.

Results: During the presentation of negative images, CORT (vs. placebo) increased functional connectivity between the hippocampus and putamen in association with depression severity. During the presentation of positive pictures CORT increased functional connectivity between the hippocampus and middle frontal gyrus as well as superior temporal gyrus in association with depression.

Limitations: Because cortisol was pharmacologically manipulated, results cannot be extrapolated to endogenous increases in cortisol levels. The sample did not permit investigation of differences due to race, ethnicity, or sex. Co-morbidities such as anxiety or PTSD were not accounted for.

Conclusions: The results suggest that CORT has normalizing effects on task-dependent functional connectivity in women with depression during emotion processing. Increasing cortisol availability or signaling may have therapeutic benefits within affective disorders.

Keywords: Cortisol; Depression; Emotion Processing; Hippocampus; Psychophysiological interaction; Task-based functional connectivity.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brain / diagnostic imaging
Cross-Over Studies
Depression* / drug therapy
Emotions
Female
Humans
Hydrocortisone*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Substances

Hydrocortisone

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding