Role of MR on cognitive and emotional function in humans: healthy individuals
Much of our understanding of MR function on HPA axis, cortisol, and cognition (Joels et al. , 2008) from animal studies has proven to be transferable to humans. Here, we focus on studies that have examined MR effects on cognitive and emotional function in healthy individuals and patients with stress-associated disorders.
The effects of cortisol per se on cognition, such as memory and executive function of healthy individuals have been investigated intensively (Shields et al. , 2017). Increased cortisol concentrations have been consistently shown to enhance memory consolidation but impair memory retrieval (Wolf, 2017). Most of these experimental studies administered cortisol or used psychosocial stress exposure, which leads to a stimulation of both GR and MR. More specific pharmacological MR targeting have been used to block or stimulate receptor function by single administration of spironolactone or fludrocortisone, respectively (Wingenfeld and Otte, 2019).