Acute cortisol elevations cause heightened arousal ratings of objectively nonarousing stimuli.

@article{Abercrombie2005AcuteCE,
  title={Acute cortisol elevations cause heightened arousal ratings of objectively nonarousing stimuli.},
  author={Heather C. Abercrombie and Ned H. Kalin and Richard J. Davidson},
  journal={Emotion},
  year={2005},
  volume={5 3},
  pages={
          354-9
        }
}
To test the effects of cortisol on affective experience, the authors orally administered a placebo, 20 mg cortisol, or 40 mg cortisol to 85 men. Participants' affective responses to negative and neutral stimuli were measured. Self-reported affective state was also assessed. Participants in the 40-mg group (showing extreme cortisol elevations within the physiological range) rated neutral stimuli as more highly arousing than did participants in the placebo and 20-mg groups. Furthermore, within… 
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