The effects of glucocorticoids on the inhibition of emotional information: A dose–response study

There is evidence that cortisol influences cognitive and affective processes such as selective attention and memory for emotional events, yet the effects of glucocorticoids on attentional inhibition in humans remain unknown. Consequently, this double-blind study examined dose-dependent effects of exogenous glucocorticoids on the inhibition of emotional information. Sixty-three university students (14 male, 49 female) ingested either a placebo pill or hydrocortisone (10 mg or 40 mg), and completed a negative priming task assessing the inhibition of pictures depicting angry, sad, and happy faces. The 10 mg, but not the 40 mg hydrocortisone dose elicited increased inhibition for angry faces relative to placebo. Thus, moderate glucocorticoid elevations may have adaptive effects on emotional information processing, whereas high glucocorticoid elevations appear to attenuate this effect, consistent with the view that there are dose-dependent effects of glucocorticoids on cognition.

Research highlights▶ A 10 mg, but not 40 mg, dose of hydrocortisone increased the inhibition of angry faces. ▶ The effect of glucocorticoids on inhibition were specific to faces depicting threat but not sadness. ▶ The high dose of hydrocortisone increased inhibition of happy faces in anxious participants.