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).