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Abstract:
High levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, may interfere with
the normal hippocampal function that is crucial for learning and
memory. This study examined the relationship between salivary
cortisol levels and learning and recall performance on a verbal
paired associates task. Twenty women (mean age 23.6 years)
completed two learning sessions and one recall session, each
separated by approximately 2 weeks. In Sessions 1 and 2,
participants were given 10 blocks of training on the paired
associates task. The measure of learning was the number of blocks
to reach 100% accuracy. In Session 3, the participants were asked
to recall the word pairs without review. The measure of recall was
the number of correct responses. Salivary cortisol samples were
collected and assayed using radioimmunoassay. Cortisol levels were
not associated with the number of blocks to reach criterion in
Sessions 1 and 2 (n=18, Spearman rs < .11, ps > .33). High
mean cortisol levels during learning and at the time of recall,
however, were associated with lower recall scores in Session 3
(n=18, Spearman r=-.468, p=.025, and r=-.413, p=.044,
respectively). The effects of high cortisol while performing a
verbal paired associates task may have been to interfere with
long-term memory, while leaving immediate learning abilities
intact.
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