High endogenous estradiol is associated with enhanced cognitive emotion regulation of physiological conditioned fear responses in women

Abstract

The sex hormone estradiol has a modifying role in the underlying neurobiology of cognitive emotion regulation, although whether estradiol is associated with outcomes of techniques like cognitive restructuring is unknown. In the present study 34 women with regular menstrual cycles participated in a one-day differential fear conditioning procedure. Women then received cognitive restructuring training, involving the reappraisal of their initial thoughts about the conditioning procedure to reduce their emotional responses, before repeating the conditioning procedure. Endogenous estradiol levels (ascertained by a blood sample) were not associated with subjective or physiological indices of conditioned fear during the first conditioning session. Following cognitive restructuring, however, women with high estradiol exhibited significantly reduced physiological arousal in the presence of the conditioned stimulus, relative to women with low estradiol. No group differences were observed in subjective fear ratings obtained after the second conditioning procedure, although those obtained during the second habitation phase (taking place immediately following cognitive restructuring) were lower amongst high estradiol women. Progesterone was not associated with any outcomes measures. Together, these results suggest that the outcomes of cognitive emotion regulation may be enhanced during periods of naturally high estradiol.