Regularity detection under stress: Faster extraction of probability-based regularities.

Acute stress can crucially influence learning and memory processes. One of the key processes underlying human learning and memory is the ability of our brain to rapidly detect and extract regularities from sensory input across time and space leading to effective predictive processing. Here, we aimed...

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Main Authors: Eszter Tóth-Fáber, Karolina Janacsek, Ágnes Szőllősi, Szabolcs Kéri, Dezso Nemeth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253123
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author Eszter Tóth-Fáber
Karolina Janacsek
Ágnes Szőllősi
Szabolcs Kéri
Dezso Nemeth
author_facet Eszter Tóth-Fáber
Karolina Janacsek
Ágnes Szőllősi
Szabolcs Kéri
Dezso Nemeth
author_sort Eszter Tóth-Fáber
collection DOAJ
description Acute stress can crucially influence learning and memory processes. One of the key processes underlying human learning and memory is the ability of our brain to rapidly detect and extract regularities from sensory input across time and space leading to effective predictive processing. Here, we aimed to get an in-depth look into the effect of stress on the acquisition of two aspects of regularity extraction. We examined whether and how stress affects the learning (1) of probability-based regularities and (2) of serial order-based regularities in the same experimental design, and (3) the explicit access to the acquired information. Considering that the acquisition of probability-based regularities is a relatively rapid process, we primarily focused on the early phase of the task. We induced stress with the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test in 27 young adults, while 26 participants were enrolled in the control group. Salivary cortisol levels and subjective ratings of affective states showed successful stress induction. After the stress induction, we measured regularity extraction with the cued Alternating Serial Reaction Time task. We found that stress promoted the extraction of probability-based regularities measured by the learning performance in the early phase of the task and did not alter the learning of serial order-based regularities. Post-block reports showed weaker explicit access to the serial order-based regularities in the stress group. Our results can contribute to a process-level understanding on how stress alters learning and memory functions related to predictive processes.
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spelling doaj.art-823edf03bc95449baae13829ce4d2cf52022-12-21T23:11:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01166e025312310.1371/journal.pone.0253123Regularity detection under stress: Faster extraction of probability-based regularities.Eszter Tóth-FáberKarolina JanacsekÁgnes SzőllősiSzabolcs KériDezso NemethAcute stress can crucially influence learning and memory processes. One of the key processes underlying human learning and memory is the ability of our brain to rapidly detect and extract regularities from sensory input across time and space leading to effective predictive processing. Here, we aimed to get an in-depth look into the effect of stress on the acquisition of two aspects of regularity extraction. We examined whether and how stress affects the learning (1) of probability-based regularities and (2) of serial order-based regularities in the same experimental design, and (3) the explicit access to the acquired information. Considering that the acquisition of probability-based regularities is a relatively rapid process, we primarily focused on the early phase of the task. We induced stress with the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test in 27 young adults, while 26 participants were enrolled in the control group. Salivary cortisol levels and subjective ratings of affective states showed successful stress induction. After the stress induction, we measured regularity extraction with the cued Alternating Serial Reaction Time task. We found that stress promoted the extraction of probability-based regularities measured by the learning performance in the early phase of the task and did not alter the learning of serial order-based regularities. Post-block reports showed weaker explicit access to the serial order-based regularities in the stress group. Our results can contribute to a process-level understanding on how stress alters learning and memory functions related to predictive processes.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253123
spellingShingle Eszter Tóth-Fáber
Karolina Janacsek
Ágnes Szőllősi
Szabolcs Kéri
Dezso Nemeth
Regularity detection under stress: Faster extraction of probability-based regularities.
PLoS ONE
title Regularity detection under stress: Faster extraction of probability-based regularities.
title_full Regularity detection under stress: Faster extraction of probability-based regularities.
title_fullStr Regularity detection under stress: Faster extraction of probability-based regularities.
title_full_unstemmed Regularity detection under stress: Faster extraction of probability-based regularities.
title_short Regularity detection under stress: Faster extraction of probability-based regularities.
title_sort regularity detection under stress faster extraction of probability based regularities
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253123
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AT szabolcskeri regularitydetectionunderstressfasterextractionofprobabilitybasedregularities
AT dezsonemeth regularitydetectionunderstressfasterextractionofprobabilitybasedregularities