Journal Article

FZJ-2022-02449

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Brain Reactions to Opening and Closing the Eyes: Salivary Cortisol and Functional Connectivity

Chang, S.-D. ; Kuo, P.-C. ; Zilles, K.FZJ* ; Duong, T. Q. ; Eickhoff, S.FZJ* ; Huang, A. C. W. ; Tsai, A. C. ; Cheng, P. E. ; Liou, M. (Corresponding author)

2022
Springer Science + Business Media B.V Dordrecht [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/31717  doi:10.1007/s10548-022-00897-x

Abstract: This study empirically assessed the strength and duration of short-term effects induced by brain reactions to closing/opening the eyes on a few well-known resting-state networks. We also examined the association between these reactions and subjects' cortisol levels. A total of 55 young adults underwent 8-min resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) scans under 4-min eyes-closed and 4-min eyes-open conditions. Saliva samples were collected from 25 of the 55 subjects before and after the fMRI sessions and assayed for cortisol levels. Our empirical results indicate that when the subjects were relaxed with their eyes closed, the effect of opening the eyes on conventional resting-state networks (e.g., default-mode, frontal-parietal, and saliency networks) lasted for roughly 60-s, during which we observed a short-term increase in activity in rs-fMRI time courses. Moreover, brain reactions to opening the eyes had a pronounced effect on time courses in the temporo-parietal lobes and limbic structures, both of which presented a prolonged decrease in activity. After controlling for demographic factors, we observed a significantly positive correlation between pre-scan cortisol levels and connectivity in the limbic structures under both conditions. Under the eyes-closed condition, the temporo-parietal lobes presented significant connectivity to limbic structures and a significantly positive correlation with pre-scan cortisol levels. Future research on rs-fMRI could consider the eyes-closed condition when probing resting-state connectivity and its neuroendocrine correlates, such as cortisol levels. It also appears that abrupt instructions to open the eyes while the subject is resting quietly with eyes closed could be used to probe brain reactivity to aversive stimuli in the ventral hippocampus and other limbic structures.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Gehirn & Verhalten (INM-7)

Research Program(s):

1. 5252 - Brain Dysfunction and Plasticity (POF4-525) (POF4-525)

Appears in the scientific report 2022

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Database coverage:
; ; ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; DEAL Springer ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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