Relative frontal brain asymmetry and cortisol release after social stress: The role of action orientation

•Frontal alpha asymmetries and HPA functioning were assessed before and after standardized public speaking stress test (TSST).•Stronger cortisol response was related to increased left frontal activity.•Moderation analysis showed effect only for low action-oriented participants.•Left frontal activity...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychology 2016-03, Vol.115, p.86-93
Main Authors: Düsing, Rainer, Tops, Mattie, Radtke, Elise Leila, Kuhl, Julius, Quirin, Markus
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action orientation
Adaptation, Psychological - physiology
Alpha asymmetry
Arousal - physiology
Cortisol
Dominance, Cerebral - physiology
EEG
Electroencephalography
Female
Frontal Lobe - physiology
Humans
Hydrocortisone - blood
Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) system
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology
Individuality
Male
Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology
Problem Solving - physiology
Speech - physiology
Stress, Psychological - physiopathology
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:•Frontal alpha asymmetries and HPA functioning were assessed before and after standardized public speaking stress test (TSST).•Stronger cortisol response was related to increased left frontal activity.•Moderation analysis showed effect only for low action-oriented participants.•Left frontal activity as a prolonged attempt to cope with such situations. Social evaluation is a potent stressor and consistently leads to an activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal system. Here, we investigated whether individual differences in action orientation influence the relationship between the cortisol response to social-evaluative threat and relative left frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha asymmetry as a brain marker of approach motivation. Forty-nine participants were exposed to a camera-based variant of the Trier Social Stress Task while salivary cortisol and resting EEG frontal alpha asymmetry were assessed before and after stress induction. Higher relative left frontal activity was associated with higher changes in cortisol levels as measured by the area under curve with respect to increase, particularly in individuals low in action orientation. We discuss the role of the left frontal cortex in coping, the potential role of oxytocin, and negative health consequences when the left-frontal coping process becomes overstrained.
ISSN:0301-0511
1873-6246
DOI:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.01.012