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Acute cortisol administration modulates EEG alpha asymmetry in volunteers: relevance to depression.

Tops M, Wijers AA, van Staveren AS, Bruin KJ, Den Boer JA, Meijman TF, Korf J

Department of Psychiatry, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen 9713 GZ, The Netherlands. m.tops@ppsw.rug.nl <m.tops@ppsw.rug.nl>

The acute effects of cortisol (35mg) administration in 11 healthy male volunteers on resting frontal EEG asymmetry measured in the alpha band were investigated, using a within-subjects double-blind design. Results were indicative of a relative increase of right frontal activity with cortisol. This pattern of activity is similar to the deviant pattern that has been reported in patients suffering from depression, a condition often accompanied by elevated plasma cortisol levels. The significant effect on frontal asymmetry provides convergent support for our hypothesis, based upon previous results, that sustained (>30 minutes after stress termination) relative high levels of cortisol inhibit approach motivation.

Published 4 April 2005 in Biol Psychol, 69(2): 181-93.
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