Abstract
Stress-induced acute activation of the cerebral catecholaminergic systems has often been found in rodents. However, little is known regarding the consequences of this activation on higher cognitive functions in humans. Theoretical inferences would suggest increased distractibility in the sense of increased exogenous attention and emotional attention. The present study investigated the influence of acute stress responses on magnetoencephalographic (MEG) correlates of visual attention. Healthy male subjects were presented emotional and neutral pictures in three subsequent MEG recording sessions after being exposed to a TSST-like social stressor, intended to trigger a HPA-response. The subjects anticipation of another follow-up stressor was designed to sustain the short-lived central catecholaminergic stress reactions throughout the ongoing MEG recordings. The heart rate indicates a stable level of anticipatory stress during this time span, subsequent cortisol concentrations and self-report measures of stress were increased. With regard to the MEG correlates of attentional functions, we found that the N1m amplitude remained constantly elevated during stressor anticipation. The magnetic early posterior negativity (EPNm) was present but, surprisingly, was not at all modulated during stressor anticipation. This suggests that a general increase of the influence of exogenous attention but no specific effect regarding emotional attention in this time interval. Regarding the time course of the effects, an influence of the HPA on these MEG correlates of attention seems less likely. An influence of cerebral catecholaminergic systems is plausible, but not definite.
Highlights
It has been suggested that, under acute stress, the allocation of attention becomes more automatic and less controlled [1,2]
Acute stress elicits a variety of stress responses that can affect attention
One aspect of the chatecholaminergic stress responses (CCR) is the activation of ascending noradrenergic projections emanating from the locus coeruleus (LC-NE) and the lateral tegmental field [3]
Summary
It has been suggested that, under acute stress, the allocation of attention becomes more automatic and less controlled [1,2]. Acute stress elicits a variety of stress responses that can affect attention. Beyond the stress-induced secretion of glucocorticoids (HPAresponse), central chatecholaminergic stress responses (CCR) have been discussed in recent times. One aspect of the CCR is the activation of ascending noradrenergic projections emanating from the locus coeruleus (LC-NE) and the lateral tegmental field [3]. A stress-induced increase in the tonic activity of LC-NE has been demonstrated in a number of animal studies using a variety of stressors [4]. The LC is one of the most stress-sensitive structures in the brain [5] and, together with the paraventricular nucleus, plays a pivotal role in governing the stress responses
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