Lau, Way K.W.Way K.W.LauDr. LEUNG Mei-kei, MikiMikiDr. LEUNG Mei-keiChan, Chetwyn C.HChetwyn C.HChanWong, Samuel S.Y.Samuel S.Y.WongLee, Tatia M.CTatia M.CLee2023-02-012023-02-012015Scientific Reports, 2015, Vol.5 (1), pp.16620-16620.2045-23222045-2322http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11861/7353Cortisol homeostasis is important for cognitive and affective functions that depend on cortisol-sensitive brain regions including the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Recent studies have shown that training induces changes in the brain. We report the findings of a longitudinal study that verified the moderation effect of experience-induced changes in awareness on the neural-cortisol association in cortisol-sensitive brain regions. These findings provide the first piece of evidence that planned behavioral experience can moderate the neural-cortisol association. A range of changes in awareness was achieved in a sample of 21 Chinese participants, divided into two groups: Awareness-based compassion meditation (ABCM) (n = 10) and relaxation (n = 11). We observed that changes in awareness were significant moderators of hippocampal-cortisol changes. Furthermore, a significant negative association between changes in plasma cortisol level and the resting-state synchrony of the right hippocampal and insular-frontal-operculum regions was observed. These novel findings shed light on the inter-relationships between changes in hippocampal-cortisol levels and changes in awareness and preliminarily identify the neural underpinnings of interventions for cortisol-related abnormal functioning for further study.enCooperationEmpathyPeer Reviewed Journal Article10.1038/srep16620