Real-world stress resilience is associated with the responsivity of the locus coeruleus

Grueschow, Marcus; Stenz, Nico; Thörn, Hanna; Ehlert, Ulrike; Breckwoldt, Jan; Maeder, Monika Brodmann; Exadaktylos, Aristomenis K.; Bingisser, Roland; Ruff, Christian C.; Kleim, Birgit

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-22509-1

Cited by 62 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 147 publications

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“…Moreover, a vast number of studies have shown that a network of cortical and subcortical regions (including the ventral striatum and the anterior cingulate cortex) are involved in increasing attention and cognitive control in various tasks to maximize reward outcomes [5,73]. More recently, the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system has been linked to the allocation of cognitive control [74,75]. In the context of the present study, it might be interesting to investigate how far activity modulations in these regions would vary with the degree of contingency between the performed action and the outcome (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of non-instructed instrumental contingency of monetary reward and positive affect in a cognitive control task

2021

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In recent years, we observed a strong interest in the influence of motivation and emotion on cognitive control. Prior studies suggest that the instrumental contingency between a response and a rewarding or affective stimulus is particularly important in that context—which is resonating with observations in the associative learning literature. However, despite this overlap, and the relevance of non-instructed learning in real life, the vast majority of studies investigating motivation–cognition interactions use direct instructions to inform participants about the contingencies between responses and stimuli. Thus, there is little experimental insight regarding how humans detect non-instructed contingencies between their actions and motivational or affective outcomes, and how these learned contingencies come to influence cognitive control processes. In an attempt to close this gap, the goal of the present study was to test the effect of non-instructed contingent and non-contingent outcomes (i.e. monetary reward and positive affective stimuli) on cognitive control using the AX-continuous performance task (AX-CPT) paradigm. We found that entirely non-instructed contingencies between responses and positive outcomes (both monetary and affective ones) led to significant performance improvement. The present results open new perspectives for studying the influence of motivation and emotion on cognitive control at the insertion with associative learning.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of non-instructed instrumental contingency of monetary reward and positive affect in a cognitive control task

2021

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“…Pupillary diameter, corneal multifocality, and aberration may contribute to accommodation [ 31 – 34 ], with pupillary diameter most likely in 2020–21 [ 31 ]. A recent investigation using fMRI and pupillometry in medical residents found neural responsitivity of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus and associated pupil responses are related to changes in anxiety and depression in response to prolonged real-life stress [ 35 ]. Longitudinal survey results identified a worsening of psychological distress with COVID-19-related stressors [ 36 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Presbyopia developed earlier during the COVID-19 pandemic

Negishi

Ayaki

2021

PLoS ONE

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Purpose The aim of this cohort study was to evaluate the development and progression of presbyopia and the status of dry eye-related symptoms from 2017 to 2020, to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Near add power at 30 cm was measured in 339 participants aged between 40 and 55 from 2017 to 2021 at Japanese eye clinics. Regression analysis of near add power and age was analyzed to compare 2017 with later years up to the pandemic. The prevalence of dry eye-related signs and six common symptoms were compared. Results The number and mean age (y) of participants were 183 (48.6±4.1) in 2017, 46 (51.3±7.5) in 2019, and 110 (49.2±3.7) in 2020–21, respectively. The mean progression rate of near add power (D/y) was 0.13 for 2017, 0.09 for 2019 (P = 0.028, vs 2017), and 0.08 for 2020–21 (P<0.001, vs 2017). The slope (rate of presbyopia progression) became flatter from 2017 to 2021 and the estimated near add power at the age of 40 increased from 2017 to 2020–2021, implicating presbyopia developed earlier and worsened during the study period. The 2017 values were comparable with previous studies described in 1922 and 2019. The standardized correlation coefficient between age and near add power was 0.816 for 2017, 0.671 for 2019 (P = 0.084, vs 2017), and 0.572 for 2020–21 (P<0.001, vs 2017). Multiple regression analysis revealed age and COVID-19 pandemic were significantly correlated with near add power. The prevalence of dryness irritation, and pain was greater in 2020–21 than in 2017 with no difference in the prevalence of eye fatigue, blurring, and photophobia. There was no difference in the prevalence of short tear break-up time and positive corneal staining among 2017, 2019 and 2020–21. Conclusion Estimated presbyopia developed earlier and progressed slower from 2017 to 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress and rapid digitalization related to strict infection control and quarantine might be contributing factors.

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“…Again, we can only speculate the mechanisms of action of this training program. In a previous study on frontline medical workers, we found that lower activation of the arousal system, indexed by activation of the arousal system during an emotion regulation task, was associated with increased resilience during subsequent stressful medical work [ 55 ]. Since one demonstrated effect of mindfulness is a change in gray matter concentration in several brain regions, including the locus coeruleus arousal system [ 56 ], such changes may well underlie the effects of mindfulness interventions and could be important to the first responder populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multimodule Web-Based COVID-19 Anxiety and Stress Resilience Training (COAST): Single-Cohort Feasibility Study With First Responders

Heyen¹,

Weigl²,

Müller³

et al. 2021

JMIR Form Res

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Background Since the emergence of COVID-19, health care workers and first responders have been at a high risk for mental health symptoms owing to their exposure to the virus and increased work stress during the pandemic. Although interventions exist to address mental health issues following exposure to disasters, emergencies, and humanitarian crises, considerably less is known about web-based unguided interventions to help mitigate the negative impacts of such events. Additionally, in contexts in which emergencies reduce access to in-person care, remote forms of support are critical, yet there are limited studies on the use of such interventions. Evidence-based, easy-to-use, scalable interventions are direly needed for this population. Objective This study aimed to develop and test the feasibility of an unguided electronic mental health program, COVID-19 Anxiety and Stress Resilience Training (COAST), tailored to first responders and health care personnel, based on scientific evidence and empirically based techniques. Methods We developed COVID-19–specific training modules focusing on several domains that are previously reported as key to resilience and stress recovery: self-efficacy, mindfulness, sleep quality, and positive thinking. The program was made available to 702 first responders between May and August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic, work-, and COVID-19–related information was collected, and psychometric questionnaires were completed. We examined user acceptance and user activity, including module choice and participant feedback. Results In total, 52 of 702 (7%) first responders to whom we reached out used the program at least once. COAST use was independent of age, sex, or baseline levels of self-efficacy, mindful awareness, sleep quality, and positive thinking (for all, P>.39). First responders who had tested positive and those who had been quarantined were more likely to engage in the program. A click count analysis per module showed that participants used the self-efficacy and mindfulness modules most often, with 382 and 122 clicks, respectively, over 15 weeks. Overall, first responders expressed satisfaction with the program. Conclusions Engagement of first responders in the multimodule web-based COAST program was feasible and the first responder cohort expressed overall satisfaction with the program. Those in more difficult circumstances, including those in quarantine and those who tested positive, may be more likely to engage in such programs. Further controlled studies could pave the way for efficacy studies and the development of additional modules, including just-in-time interventions or blended interventions combining individual use of an unguided self-help intervention, such as COAST, with subsequent individual psychotherapy for those who continue to experience stress and psychological symptoms.

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Real-world stress resilience is associated with the responsivity of the locus coeruleus

Cited by 62 publications

References 147 publications

Effect of non-instructed instrumental contingency of monetary reward and positive affect in a cognitive control task

Effect of non-instructed instrumental contingency of monetary reward and positive affect in a cognitive control task

Presbyopia developed earlier during the COVID-19 pandemic

Multimodule Web-Based COVID-19 Anxiety and Stress Resilience Training (COAST): Single-Cohort Feasibility Study With First Responders

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