RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Circadian fluctuations in glucocorticoid level impact perceptual sensitivity
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.10.07.330282
DO 10.1101/2020.10.07.330282
A1 Jonas Obleser
A1 Jens Kreitewolf
A1 Ricarda Vielhauer
A1 Fanny Lindner
A1 Carolin David
A1 Henrik Oster
A1 Sarah Tune
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/10/09/2020.10.07.330282.abstract
AB Perceptual abilities fluctuate on time scales of seconds or minutes. However, it is unclear how slower, circadian neurobiological rhythms such as the expression of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones modulate our perceptual abilities. Here, we show that phasic, moderate increases in GC availability prove beneficial to auditory discrimination. In an age-varying sample of N = 68 healthy human participants, we characterise the covariation of saliva cortisol with perceptual sensitivity in an auditory pitch-discrimination task at five time points across the sleep–wake cycle. First, momentary saliva cortisol levels were captured well by the time relative to the wake-up cycle and overall sleep duration. Second, within individuals, higher cortisol levels just prior to behavioural testing improved participant’s pitch discrimination abilities, expressed as a steepened psychometric curve. This effect of glucocorticoids on perceptual sensitivity held under a set of statistical control models. Our results pave the way for more in-depth studies on neuroendocrinological determinants of sensory encoding and perception.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.