Poster #8 - Neural Activity Differences in Physiological and Perceived Stress Responses during Adolescence

• In Event: Poster Session 18

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a developmental period associated with an increased sensitivity to social stress. Functional neuroimaging studies have identified stress-reactive brain regions, which relate to both cortisol reactivity and perceived stress levels. However, self-reported stress is often not predictive of an individual’s concurrent neuroendocrine response; for example, cortisol may not increase during events that individuals perceive to be stressful. These interactions between physiological, psychological, and neural stress responses during adolescence remain poorly understood.

Methods: 107 adolescents (ages 11-14) completed a social stress task concurrent with fMRI scanning. The social stress task reliably elicits psychological/neuroendocrine stress responses by requiring participants to prepare/deliver a speech and complete math problems while evaluated by two confederate judges. Neuroendocrine reactivity was measured by salivary assay, and cortisol responder status was determined by 115% increase in cortisol relative to baseline. Perceived stress was measured by self-report. Statistical analyses were conducted to examine if cortisol reactivity and perceived stress predicted neural activity in response to the social stress task.

Results: Stress-related brain regions (e.g., amygdala, hypothalamus) showed task-related increases in neural activity during stress conditions in the full sample. Preliminary analyses suggest greater self-reported stress levels predicted increased amygdala activity in response to the social stress task, but only for cortisol responders. Subsequent work will probe additional associations between other brain regions and stress measures.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that different patterns of neural activity may underlie individual differences in stress response profiles. Future work will further probe distinct neural response patterns related to physiological and psychological stress responses. Data collection is ongoing.

Authors

• Madison H Fung, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  Presenting Author

• Zachary Miller, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Bonny Donzella, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Finola Eileen Kane-Grade, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Megan R. Gunnar, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Kathleen M. Thomas, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities