scholarly journals Cortisol, Temperament and Serotonin in Karate Combats: An Evolutionary Psychobiological Perspective

Author(s):  
Davide Ponzi ◽  
Harold Dadomo ◽  
Laura Filonzi ◽  
Paola Palanza ◽  
Annalisa Pelosi ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives There is evidence suggesting that in martial arts competitions athletes characterized by higher anxiety and harm avoidance may be more likely to lose a fight. This psychological profile has been hypothesized to explain in part the observation that cortisol is higher in losers before and in response to a competition. An important research target that needs further exploration is the identification of phenotypic traits that can be helpful in predicting athletes’ performance. Here we present a brief description of the theoretical bases that drives our research in the evolutionary psychobiology of sports and illustrate preliminary data on the relationship between the 5HTTLPR genotype, salivary cortisol, temperament and competition. Methods Sixty-five healthy male non-professional athletes provided saliva samples 10 min before and after a kumite session and filled out the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. Results Salivary cortisol levels 10 min before the competition were higher in losers and in athletes with the S allele. Temperament was associated with competition outcome and cortisol: losers were characterized by higher scores of harm avoidance and harm avoidance was positively correlated with cortisol levels. Conclusions The results confirm previous findings linking temperamental traits, pre-and post- competition physiological stress response with competition outcome in kumite fight. Moreover, they indicate an association between the 5HTTLPR polymorphism and pre-competition salivary cortisol, thus providing a preliminary but non-conclusive evidence on the role played by the 5HTTLPR genotype as a vulnerability factor in sport competition.

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Einor Ben Assayag ◽  
Estelle Seyman ◽  
Jeremy Molad ◽  
Oren Tene ◽  
Amos Korczyn ◽  
...  

Background: The short (s) allele of a polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) is related to reduced serotonin transporter efficiency and an increased vulnerability to stress and mental disorders. The 5-HTTLPR s allele was reported as associate with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis reactivity to stress, depression and negatively impact on memory. Acute stroke is associated with elevated cortisol levels as part of the body’s reaction to a stress provoking event. We investigated whether 5-HTT genotype interacts with physiological stress to impact on outcome after stroke. Methods: Data from 485 non-depressed cognitively intact first-ever mild to moderate stroke patients from the TABASCO study were available. Patients underwent 3T MRI scans, saliva cortisol measure and comprehensive neuropsychological assessments at admission, 6, and 12 and 24 months thereafter. Results: Carriers of the 5-HTT-s allele (23.2%) had significantly higher admission bedtime salivary cortisol (p=0.042) and more depressive symptoms 12 and 24 months after the index event (p=0.043, p=0.05, respectively) than non-carriers. Higher admission salivary cortisol levels negatively correlated with hippocampal and amigdalar volume at admission (r=-0.257, p=0.004; r=-0.177, p=0.048, respectively) as well as with lower cognitive and higher depression scores 24 months post-stroke (r=-0.2, p=0.032, r=0.245, p=0.007, respectively). The association between salivary cortisol levels, depressive and cognitive scores was stronger in 5-HTT-s carriers than non-carriers. Conclusions: We report that carriers of the 5-HTT-s allele may be at risk to develop depressive symptoms post-stroke. The interactive effects of the s allele and cortisol levels on hippocampal volume and post-stroke depressive symptoms, as well as cognitive performance, suggest that the negative effect of the serotonin polymorphism on the development of post-stroke depression and cognitive decline is mediated by the HPA axis. Since genetic factors may influence vulnerability to the adverse effects of stress, serotonin receptors may provide a novel target for therapeutics to prevent depression and cognitive deterioration in stroke patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Glauco De Cunto Carelli Taets ◽  
Ramon Werner Heringer Gutierrez ◽  
Leila Brito Bergold ◽  
Luana Silva Monteiro

Although mental disorders are common among university students, the majority of students with mental health issues do not seek out treatment during their academic life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel group approach- choir singing, and its potential impact on stress, via salivary cortisol levels and self-reported stress levels in university students during 4 sessions of choir singing. It was based on a quasi-experimental research conducted with 25 Brazilian university students. Each choir singing session lasted 60 minutes. A question was asked before and after the intervention: what is the level of your stress? Salivary cortisol was collected before and after the intervention. After the choir singing intervention, there was  a statistically significant reduction in self-reported stress (p<0.0001) and salivary cortisol levels (p<0.0001). This research suggests that choir singing can reduce the self-reported stress of university students after 4 weeks of follow-up with ∆= 45.83% and salivary cortisol levels in the first week with ∆= 3.57%.


2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Zulkifli ◽  
Y. M. Goh ◽  
B. Norbaiyah ◽  
A. Q. Sazili ◽  
M. Lotfi ◽  
...  

The present study aimed to provide a comparative analysis of the effects of penetrative stunning, non-penetrative stunning and post-slaughter stunning on biochemical parameters and electroencephalogram (EEG) associated with stress in heifers and steers. Ten animals were assigned to each of the following four treatment groups: (1) animals were subjected to conventional halal slaughter (a clean incision through the structures on the ventral neck at the approximate level of vertebrae C2–C3 – the trachea, oesophagus, carotid arteries and jugular veins) and post-cut penetrating mechanical stun within 10–20 s of the halal cut (U); (2) high-power non-penetrating mechanical stunning using a mushroom-headed humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (HPNP); (3) low-power non-penetrating mechanical percussive stunning using a mushroom-headed humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (LPNP); and (4) penetrative stunning using a captive-bolt pistol humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (P). For each animal, blood samples and electroencephalogram recordings were taken before stunning, post-stunning (if applicable) and post-slaughter, and plasma concentrations of cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), adrenaline, noradrenaline and β-endorphin were determined. Irrespective of the stunning method, except for percentage change in plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, the values of blood parameters attained before and after stunning were not significantly different. The plasma noradrenaline concentration of the HPNP animals was significantly elevated following stunning. Following slaughter, the percentage change of plasma ACTH concentration in the P animals was significantly elevated. Neither stunning method nor sampling time had a significant effect on plasma β-endorphin concentration. On the basis of the EEG results, penetrative stunning seemed to be better in maximising the possibility of post-stunning insensibility, whereas U animals appeared to demonstrate an evident increase in EEG activity which is consistent with the presence of post-slaughter noxious stimuli associated with tissue cut and injury. The U animals had consistently higher, if not the highest, RMS values than did other stunned animals. This indicates a degree of EEG changes associated with stress and pain. On the basis of EEG data, our results suggested that penetrative stunning would be the most reliable method of ensuring insensibility and minimising pain. However, at slaughter, the P animals showed a dramatic elevation in the percentage change of circulating ACTH, suggesting physiological stress response. On a cautionary note, the results are not unequivocal, and it may be that the range of analyses available to researchers at this point of time are not sufficiently specific to allow definitive conclusions to be drawn.


2003 ◽  
Vol 93 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1133-1134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian Ng ◽  
David Koh ◽  
Sin-Eng Chia

Immediately before and after participation in a written final examination, 11 graduate students rated their self-perceived stress and provided saliva samples for cortisol assay. Students rated stress higher before the examination, and these ratings were associated with increased salivary cortisol. Students who reported higher stress and had higher cortisol levels before the examination tended to have significantly lower examination scores.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
AK Shanmugaavel ◽  
Sharath Asokan ◽  
John J Baby ◽  
Geetha Priya ◽  
J Gnana Devi

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the behavioral effects and the changes in the anxiety level of children after intranasal and sublingual midazolam sedation using Venham's clinical anxiety scale and salivary cortisol level. Study Design: Twenty children aged 3 to 7 years were randomly assigned to Group A (n=10) intranasal or Group B (n=10) sublingual midazolam (0.2mg/kg) sedation. The anxiety levels at various time periods were assessed using Venham clinical anxiety scale and corresponding changes in salivary cortisol levels were assessed before and after the drug administration. The anxiety levels were assessed independently by two pediatric dentists from recorded videos. Wilcoxon signed rank test and Mann Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis using SPSS version 19.0.Results: There was a significant decrease in anxiety level from baseline to 20 minutes after drug administration in group A (p=0.004) and group B (p=0.003). There was no significant change in salivary cortisol levels before and after the drug administration in group A (p=0.07) and group B (p=0.38). Conclusions: Both intranasal and sublingual administration of midazolam was equally effective in reducing the child's anxiety. However, there was no significant difference in the salivary cortisol levels in both groups.


2002 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 1521-1530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Heber ◽  
Michael Kellner ◽  
Rachel Yehuda

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Ranković Janevski ◽  
Ana Đorđević Vujičić ◽  
Svjetlana Maglajić Đukić

Summary Background: Salivary cortisol measurement is a non-invasive method suitable for use in neonatal research. Mother-infant separation after birth represents stress and skin-to-skin contact (SSC) has numerous benefits. The aim of the study was to measure salivary cortisol in mothers and newborns before and after SSC in order to assess the effect of SSC on mothers’ and infants’ stress and to estimate the efficacy of collecting small saliva samples in newborns. Methods: Salivary cortisol was measured in 35 mother-infant pairs before and after the first and the fifth SSC in small saliva samples (50 μL) using the high sensitivity Quantitative ELISA-Kit (0.0828 nmol/L) for low cortisol levels detection. Samples were collected with eye sponge during 3 to 5 minutes. Results: Cortisol level in mothers decreased after SSC: the highest levels were measured before and the lowest after SSC and the differences in values were significant during both the first (p<0.001) and the fifth SSC (p<0.001). During the first SSC the cortisol level decrease was detected in 14 (40%) and an increase in 21 (60%) newborns, and during the fifth SSC a decrease was detected in 16 (45.7%) and an increase in 19 (54.3%) newborns, without confirmed significance of the difference. Saliva sampling efficacy using eye sponge was 75%. Conclusions: Cortisol level decrease in mothers proves the stress reduction during SSC, while variable cortisol levels in infants do not indicate stress reduction and imply the need for further research. The used sampling method appeared to be one of the most optimal considering the sample volume, sampling time and efficacy.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine R. Thorson ◽  
Michael F Lorber ◽  
Amy Smith Slep ◽  
Richard Heyman

Past research on the relation between hostility in intimate relationships and adiposity has yielded mixed findings. The present study investigated whether the association between relationship hostility and adiposity is moderated by people’s biological reactions to couple conflict. Cohabiting adult couples (N = 117 couples) engaged in two conflict interactions, before and after which salivary cortisol levels were measured. Results revealed an association between relationship hostility and adiposity, but this association was concentrated among people with relatively low levels of cortisol reactivity to couple conflict. Results are interpreted in light of research demonstrating that cortisol reactivity can become blunted over time in response to repeated stressors. These results provide precision to etiological models of obesity by identifying cortisol reactivity as a factor that moderates the association between relationship hostility and adiposity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 128-138
Author(s):  
Kiyoko Mizuhata ◽  
Hatsumi Taniguchi ◽  
Naoko Hikita ◽  
Mieko Shimada ◽  
Seiichi Morokuma

Purpose: The effects of breastfeeding on postpartum depression symptoms and stress using physiological measures require investigation. Background: Breastfeeding suppresses the secretion of cortisol. Oxytocin levels correlate negatively with symptoms of postpartum depression. Aim: To investigate the effects of breastfeeding on stress and postpartum depression. Methods: We examined 79 breastfeeding women using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale-10, and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, and measured the salivary cortisol levels before and after breastfeeding. Findings: There was a negative correlation between the duration of suckling and changes in salivary cortisol levels following breastfeeding (rs = −0.333, p < 0.05). Salivary cortisol levels immediately following breastfeeding were significantly lower compared to mothers who used mixed feeding methods (p < 0.001). Breastfeeding mothers had lower perceived stress than mothers using mixed feeding methods (β = −0.260, p < 0.05). There was no association between breastfeeding and postpartum depression; however, there was an association between postpartum depression and perceived stress (β = 0.622, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Salivary cortisol levels significantly decreased following breastfeeding, with longer suckling times correlating with lower cortisol levels. Breastfeeding reduced stress and increased breastfeeding self-efficacy.


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