Dopaminergic and noradrenergic modulation of stress-induced alterations in brain activation associated with goal-directed behaviour

Abstract

Background: Acute stress is thought to reduce goal-directed behaviour, an effect purportedly associated with stress-induced release of catecholamines. In contrast, experimentally increased systemic catecholamine levels have been shown to increase goal-directed behaviour. Whether experimentally increased catecholamine function can modulate stress-induced reductions in goal-directed behaviour and its neural substrates, is currently unknown. Aim: To assess whether and how experimentally induced increases in dopamine and noradrenaline contribute to the acute stress effects on goal-directed behaviour and associated brain activation. Methods: One hundred participants underwent a stress induction protocol (Maastricht acute stress test; MAST) or a control procedure and received methylphenidate (MPH) (40 mg, oral) or placebo according to a 2 × 2 between-subjects design. In a well-established instrumental learning paradigm, participants learnt stimulus–response–outcome associations, after which rewards were selectively devalued. Participants’ brain activation and associated goal-directed behaviour were assessed in a magnetic resonance imaging scanner at peak cortisol/MPH concentrations. Results: The MAST and MPH increased physiological measures of stress (salivary cortisol and blood pressure), but only MAST increased subjective measures of stress. MPH modulated stress effects on activation of brain areas associated with goal-directed behaviour, including insula, putamen, amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, frontal pole and orbitofrontal cortex. However, MPH did not modulate the tendency of stress to induce a reduction in goal-directed behaviour. Conclusion: Our neuroimaging data suggest that MPH-induced increases in dopamine and noradrenaline reverse stress-induced changes in key brain regions associated with goal-directed behaviour, while behavioural effects were absent. These effects may be relevant for preventing stress-induced maladaptive behaviour like in addiction or binge eating disorder.

Psilocybin induces acute and persisting alterations in immune status and the stress response in healthy volunteers

“…Compared to the no-stress control protocol, the MAST induced significant autonomic responses including increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and increases in cortisol, in both those which received psilocybin, and those that had received placebo. Such findings are in line with previous studies utilizing the MAST in a healthy population[40, 88-92]. In contrast to the previous studies whom also demonstrated a strong increase in subjective concentrations of state anxiety after the MAST, ratings of anxiety did not reach significance when comparing the stress to no stress condition.…”

Volume and Connectivity Differences in Brain Networks Associated with Cognitive Constructs of Binge Eating

“…As mentioned previously, the cingulate cortex and insula are involved in processing reward values (e.g. Alexander & Brown, 2019;Rolls, 2019) and have been observed to be affected by acute stress (van Ruitenbeek et al, 2021). Other areas like the amygdala and hippocampus are commonly known to regulate stress.…”

Methylphenidate as a treatment option for substance use disorder: a transdiagnostic perspective

“…MPH may therefore suppress reward value and diminish reward-based learning in SUD patients, which is in line with an MPH-induced reduction in functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum (199) as a neural substrate for drug liking (200). Improved behavioral control is suggested by MPH-induced altered functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens medial PFC (199), an area associated with reflective cognition (201). In addition, MPH reversed an acute stress-induced reduction in brain activation associated with goal-directed behavior (202).…”