Short-term versus long-term effects of adrenal hormones on behaviors.

Abstract

Hypothesizes that short-term exposures to stress facilitate performances of serially repetitive, overlearned tasks and impair performances of perceptual restructuring tasks, while long-term exposures to stress produce the opposite behavioral effects. These effects are attributed, in part, to the length of exposure of the central nervous system to stress-elicited adrenal hormones (epinephrine and cortisol). Short-term exposures are believed to induce states of central adrenergic dominance that favor performances of serially repetitive, overlearned tasks at the expense of perceptual restructuring tasks. Longer exposures are thought to result in a shift to central cholinergic dominance that favors the opposite pattern of performances. A physiological model is presented that accounts for the shift from central adrenergic to central cholinergic dominance. Experimental procedures derived from the model promote the reversal of some of the behavioral and physiological effects of a long-term stressor. (5 p ref)

Time-dependent variations in aversively motivated behaviors: Nonassociative effects of cholinergic and catecholaminergic activity.

“…In a recent paper, Broverman, Klaiber, Vogel, and Kobayashi (1974) have for-warded an argument that in many ways is similar to that presented here. These investigators suggested that in short-term stress situations, release of epinephrine may stimulate central norepinephrine via the reticular activating system and the hypothalamus (see also Gellhorn, 1957), consequently resulting in increased responsivity.…”

“…Accordingly, the net result may be one of greater imbalance of the catecholamine-cholinergic systems in favor of cholinergic action. Moreover, if decreased catecholamine-receptor stimulation occurs because of accumulated false transmitters, as suggested by Broverman et al (1974), a mechanism for increased ACh levels can be postulated, since dopamine apparently has a tonic inhibitory effect on ACh levels (Bartholini et al, 1973).…”

The effects of prenatal psychological stress on the sexual behavior and reactivity of male rats

“…(Levine [ 19691 has assumed that variations in neonatal corticosterone permanently bias the animal's subsequent response to emotion-provoking stimuli.) Corticosterone also inhibits testosterone production-at least in adult males (Broverman, Klaiber, Vogel, & Kobayashi, 1974)-and, thus, the complementary changes in sexual behavior and open-field activity observed might be mediated by similar hormonal changes induced by early stress.…”

Sensation seeking and gonadal hormones

“…There is recent evidence that sex hormones can affect MAO activity and regulate adrenergic arousal (Broverman et al, 1974). In humans there are changing levels of MAO in association with blood oestrogen concentrations (Briggs & Briggs, 1972), the menstrual cycle (Klaiber et al, 1971), and in amenorrhoeic and menopausal women (Klaiber et al, 1971).…”