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

Peter van Ruitenbeek*, Conny W.E.M. Quaedflieg, Dennis Hernaus, Bart Hartogsveld, Tom Smeets

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number02698811211044679
Pages (from-to)1449-1463
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Psychopharmacology
Volume35
Issue number12
Early online date14 Sept 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

Keywords

  • DRUG-ADDICTION
  • Dopamine
  • INDUCED INCREASE
  • INDUCED RELAPSE
  • INSTRUMENTAL BEHAVIOR
  • LOCUS-COERULEUS
  • MEDIAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX
  • MEMORY-SYSTEMS
  • POSITRON-EMISSION-TOMOGRAPHY
  • PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESS
  • VENTRAL TEGMENTAL AREA
  • goal-directed behaviour
  • neuroimaging
  • stress

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