QUANTITATIVE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC CORRELATES OF STEROID-ADMINISTRATION IN MAN

Elevated levels of circulating corticosteroids are frequently associat ed with behavioral alterations in man, although the mechanisms by whic h corticosteroids may affect behavior are poorly understood. To evalua te possible effects of exogenous corticosteroids on brain electrophysi ological functioning and the relationship of such effects to behaviora l and biochemical changes, we administered prednisone (80 mg p.o. dail y for 5 days) in a double-blind manner to 11 medically healthy volunte ers. Quantitative electroencephalogram analysis was performed followin g 4 days of prednisone administration and during the preceding and ens uing placebo administration periods. Central theta wave brain electric al activity significantly increased following prednisone administratio n and returned to baseline following prednisone withdrawal. This effec t was directly correlated with prednisone-induced increases in subject ive sadness ratings and with decreases in self-rated energy and well-b eing. Prednisone-induced reductions in peak alpha wave activity were a lso directly correlated with increases in subjective sadness and Sympt om Checklist-90 ratings and with decreases in self-rated 'hypomanic' s ymptoms. Further, prednisone-induced increases in theta activity were significantly correlated with prednisone-induced decreases in CSF leve ls of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity, and prednisone-induced decre ases in peak alpha activity were significantly correlated with decreas es in CSF levels of norepinephrine and with relative increases (or les ser decreases) in CSF levels of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropic hor mone. This preliminary report of the concomitant development of predni sone-induced changes in brain electrical activity, neurochemistry and behavior highlights areas for future exploration in the study of corti costeroid effects on behavior in man.