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Cortisol awakening response and spatial working memory in man: a U‐shaped relationship
Author(s) -
Moriarty Andrew S.,
Bradley Andrew J.,
Anderson Kirstie N.,
Watson Stuart,
Gallagher Peter,
McAllisterWilliams R. Hamish
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2399
Subject(s) - cognition , cortisol awakening response , working memory , neuropsychology , association (psychology) , psychology , glucocorticoid , spatial memory , hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis , glucocorticoid receptor , audiology , developmental psychology , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , medicine , neuroscience , hydrocortisone , hormone , psychotherapist
Objective The association between hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)‐axis function and cognition has long been investigated. An inverted U‐shaped relationship has been described between various measures of HPA‐axis function and neuropsychological performance in animals and man. Work with glucocorticoid receptor manipulation has corroborated these findings, with particular effects observed in relation to spatial working memory (SWM). As HPA‐axis dysfunction is frequently found in patients with psychiatric illness, research in this area has potential implications for the treatment of the commonly observed cognitive impairment in such disorders. Here, we present the results of a pilot study examining the relationship between cortisol awakening response (CAR) and cognitive functions known to be susceptible to HPA‐axis manipulation. Methods Nineteen healthy male volunteers were recruited, and their CAR and performance in a task of SWM were assessed. Results A highly significant quadratic relationship was observed between the CAR and SWM error rate ( R 2 = 0.63, p = 0.001). Conclusion We provide novel evidence supporting the existence of an inverted U‐shaped relationship between corticosteroid levels and cognitive function in humans. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.