| |
Abstract:
Abstract: Stress has complex effects on cognition because the
human stress response includes autonomic, neuroendocrine, and
cognitive components. Autonomic arousal may enhance orienting,
selective attention, and reaction time, but cortisol release may
interfere with memory processes. This study examined the effects of
psychosocial stress on attention and memory. In order to facilitate
a range of stress responses, participants in a high-stress
condition performed a public speaking and mental arithmetic task.
Participants in a low-stress condition simply observed a public
speaking and mental arithmetic task. All participants completed a
visual search and word judgment task. Recall for words was assessed
immediately and after a 15-minute delay. Autonomic, endocrine, and
cognitive responses were monitored by measuring heart rate,
electrodermal response, salivary cortisol, and self-reports of
perceived stress. Participants in the high-stress condition showed
greater autonomic, endocrine, and cognitive indications of stress
during the public speaking task than did the low-stress group.
Performance on the visual search task was unrelated to any
indicators of stress during the public speaking task.
Stress-induced cortisol increases were correlated with enhanced
immediate recall of recent words, but rapid forgetting of those
words after a delay. These results are consistent with the
hypothesis that stress-induced cortisol increases have biphasic
effects on memory processes.
|
