Stress, cortisol and memory as markers of serotonergic vulnerability
Wim J. Riedel,
Sjacko Sobczak,
Nancy Nicolson,
Adriaan Honig,
Wim J. Riedel
Brain & Behaviour Insititue, Dept of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Universiteit Maastricht,
Search for more papers by this authorSjacko Sobczak
Brain & Behaviour Insititue, Dept of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Universiteit Maastricht,
Search for more papers by this authorNancy Nicolson
Brain & Behaviour Insititue, Dept of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Universiteit Maastricht,
Search for more papers by this authorAdriaan Honig
Brain & Behaviour Insititue, Dept of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Universiteit Maastricht,
Search for more papers by this authorWim J. Riedel,
Sjacko Sobczak,
Nancy Nicolson,
Adriaan Honig,
Wim J. Riedel
Brain & Behaviour Insititue, Dept of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Universiteit Maastricht,
Search for more papers by this authorSjacko Sobczak
Brain & Behaviour Insititue, Dept of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Universiteit Maastricht,
Search for more papers by this authorNancy Nicolson
Brain & Behaviour Insititue, Dept of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Universiteit Maastricht,
Search for more papers by this authorAdriaan Honig
Brain & Behaviour Insititue, Dept of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Universiteit Maastricht,
Search for more papers by this author Wim J Riedel, GlaxoSmithKline, ACCI, Adden Brooke's Hospital, Box 128, Cambridge CB2 2GG UK. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
Objectives: In the present paper the association of stress-induced cortisol with memory impairment is discussed
Methods: An experiment is described in which an attempt is made to block stress-induced cortisol by lowering 5-HT neurotransmission by means of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD). Forty-five healthy control subjects participated in the experiment.
Results: Stress-induced peak cortisol and immediate memory performance were negatively associated. ATD tended to block stress-induced cortisol response. ATD also blocked the association between peak cortisol response and memory impairment.
Conclusions: Stress-induced cortisol and its association with memory impairment is mediated at least partially by serotonin.
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