Neuronal correlates of extinction learning are modulated by sex hormones
Neuronal correlates of extinction learning are modulated by sex hormones
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DOI：
10.1093/scan/nsr063
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发表时间：
2012-10-01
影响因子：
4.2
通讯作者：
Wolf, Oliver T.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Merz, Christian J.;Tabbert, Katharina;Wolf, Oliver T.
在情绪学习任务中，性别差异、压力效应以及这两个调节因素的交互作用经常被观察到。性激素雌二醇(E2)和孕酮(P4)会随着月经周期的不同而变化。我们测试了不同性激素水平的人群：39名男性，30名女性黄体期(LU，高E2+P4)和29名女性服用口服避孕药(OC，低E2+P4)。他们接受30毫克皮质醇或安慰剂，然后接受由中性条件刺激(CS)和电刺激(无条件刺激；UCS)组成的区分恐惧条件反射。一个图形(CS+)与UCS配对，另一个图形(CS-)从不配对。在灭绝过程中，没有给予任何电刺激。关于恐惧的获得，结果显示，在几个不受皮质醇或性激素调节的结构中，CS+的皮肤电导和大脑对CS+的反应比CS-高。然而，在灭绝期间，OC女性在杏仁核、丘脑、前扣带回和前额叶腹内侧皮质的CS+/CS-分化程度高于男性和LU女性。OC对内源性性激素的抑制似乎改变了神经元灭绝的相关性。观察到消退受到当前性激素供应的影响，这一观察结果与未来的研究相关，也可能在临床上具有重要意义。
In emotional learning tasks, sex differences, stress effects and an interaction of these two moderators have often been observed. The sex hormones estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) vary over the menstrual cycle. We tested groups with different sex hormone status: 39 men, 30 women in the luteal phase (LU, high E2+P4) and 29 women taking oral contraceptives (OC, low E2+P4). They received either 30 mg cortisol or placebo prior to instructed differential fear conditioning consisting of neutral conditioned stimuli (CS) and an electrical stimulation (unconditioned stimulus; UCS). One figure (CS+) was paired with the UCS, the other figure (CS-) never. During extinction, no electrical stimulation was administered. Regarding fear acquisition, results showed higher skin conductance and higher brain responses to the CS+ compared to the CS- in several structures that were not modulated by cortisol or sex hormones. However, OC women exhibited higher CS+/CS- differentiations than men and LU women in the amygdala, thalamus, anterior cingulate and ventromedial prefrontal cortex during extinction. The suppression of endogenous sex hormones by OC seems to alter neuronal correlates of extinction. The observation that extinction is influenced by the current sex hormone availability is relevant for future studies and might also be clinically important.