Perceived chronic stress influences the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility
Abstract Executive functions are cognitive processes that facilitate goal-directed behavior by enabling us to direct and control our thoughts. Cognitive flexibility is an executive function characterized by the ability to mentally shift between rules, strategies, or tasks. Several studies have repor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03101-5 |
| _version_ | 1818383896960565248 |
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| author | Katherine Knauft Alexander Waldron Mishali Mathur Vrinda Kalia |
| author_facet | Katherine Knauft Alexander Waldron Mishali Mathur Vrinda Kalia |
| author_sort | Katherine Knauft |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Executive functions are cognitive processes that facilitate goal-directed behavior by enabling us to direct and control our thoughts. Cognitive flexibility is an executive function characterized by the ability to mentally shift between rules, strategies, or tasks. Several studies have reported that acute (brief) stress impairs cognitive flexibility. Even though an individual’s perception of their chronic stress levels is shown to influence effects of future stressors, the interactive effect of acute and perceived chronic stress on cognitive flexibility is not known. We conducted two experiments to address this gap. In both studies, perceived chronic stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale. Acute stress was induced using the Cold Pressor Test. Number of perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was used as an indicator of cognitive flexibility. In Study 2, we also measured salivary alpha amylase as a marker of the physiological stress response. Data from our two studies are consistent with the hypothesis that an individual’s perception of their chronic stress level may impact the effect of acute stress on perseveration. In Study 1, we observed a significant interaction between acute and perceived chronic stress on perseverative errors, such that only individuals who reported high levels of perceived chronic stress prior to acute stress exposure showed no change in perseveration following the acute stress manipulation. This effect did not differ based on participant sex. In Study 2, we found a similar interaction effect of acute and perceived chronic stress on perseverative errors in an all-woman sample. After identifying salivary alpha amylase responders and non-responders, we observed a strong, negative correlation between perceived chronic stress and perseverative errors amongst the responders only. Our data highlight the value in studying salivary alpha amylase in response to acute stress exposure. Additionally, perceived chronic stress emerged as a key variable in the relationship between acute stress and cognitive flexibility. Overall, our work suggests that future research interested in interrogating moderators in the relationship between acute stress and cognition would benefit from inclusion of measures of chronic stress. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:13:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1486ee52744d405ebc79a9b5373489b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:13:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-1486ee52744d405ebc79a9b5373489b42022-12-21T23:19:11ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-12-0111111410.1038/s41598-021-03101-5Perceived chronic stress influences the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibilityKatherine Knauft0Alexander Waldron1Mishali Mathur2Vrinda Kalia3Department of Psychology, Miami UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Miami UniversityColumbia University Mailman School of Public HealthDepartment of Psychology, Miami UniversityAbstract Executive functions are cognitive processes that facilitate goal-directed behavior by enabling us to direct and control our thoughts. Cognitive flexibility is an executive function characterized by the ability to mentally shift between rules, strategies, or tasks. Several studies have reported that acute (brief) stress impairs cognitive flexibility. Even though an individual’s perception of their chronic stress levels is shown to influence effects of future stressors, the interactive effect of acute and perceived chronic stress on cognitive flexibility is not known. We conducted two experiments to address this gap. In both studies, perceived chronic stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale. Acute stress was induced using the Cold Pressor Test. Number of perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was used as an indicator of cognitive flexibility. In Study 2, we also measured salivary alpha amylase as a marker of the physiological stress response. Data from our two studies are consistent with the hypothesis that an individual’s perception of their chronic stress level may impact the effect of acute stress on perseveration. In Study 1, we observed a significant interaction between acute and perceived chronic stress on perseverative errors, such that only individuals who reported high levels of perceived chronic stress prior to acute stress exposure showed no change in perseveration following the acute stress manipulation. This effect did not differ based on participant sex. In Study 2, we found a similar interaction effect of acute and perceived chronic stress on perseverative errors in an all-woman sample. After identifying salivary alpha amylase responders and non-responders, we observed a strong, negative correlation between perceived chronic stress and perseverative errors amongst the responders only. Our data highlight the value in studying salivary alpha amylase in response to acute stress exposure. Additionally, perceived chronic stress emerged as a key variable in the relationship between acute stress and cognitive flexibility. Overall, our work suggests that future research interested in interrogating moderators in the relationship between acute stress and cognition would benefit from inclusion of measures of chronic stress.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03101-5 |
| spellingShingle | Katherine Knauft Alexander Waldron Mishali Mathur Vrinda Kalia Perceived chronic stress influences the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility Scientific Reports |
| title | Perceived chronic stress influences the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility |
| title_full | Perceived chronic stress influences the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility |
| title_fullStr | Perceived chronic stress influences the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived chronic stress influences the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility |
| title_short | Perceived chronic stress influences the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility |
| title_sort | perceived chronic stress influences the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03101-5 |
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