Acute stress differentially affects spatial configuration learning in high and low cortisol-responding healthy adults

Abstract

BackgroundStress and stress hormones modulate memory formation in various ways that are relevant to our understanding of stress-related psychopathology, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Particular relevance is attributed to efficient memory formation sustained by the hippocampus and parahippocampus. This process is thought to reduce the occurrence of intrusions and flashbacks following trauma, but may be negatively affected by acute stress. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that the efficiency of visuo-spatial processing and learning based on the hippocampal area is related to PTSD symptoms.ObjectiveThe current study investigated the effect of acute stress on spatial configuration learning using a spatial contextual cueing task (SCCT) known to heavily rely on structures in the parahippocampus.MethodAcute stress was induced by subjecting participants (N = 34) to the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST). Following a counterbalanced within-subject approach, the effects of stress and the ensuing hormonal (i.e., cortisol) activity on subsequent SCCT performance were compared to SCCT performance following a no-stress control condition.ResultsAcute stress did not impact SCCT learning overall, but opposing effects emerged for high versus low cortisol responders to the MAST. Learning scores following stress were reduced in low cortisol responders, while high cortisol-responding participants showed improved learning.ConclusionsThe effects of stress on spatial configuration learning were moderated by the magnitude of endogenous cortisol secretion. These findings suggest a possible mechanism by which cortisol responses serve an adaptive function during stress and trauma, and this may prove to be a promising route for future research in this area.

Stress, stress‐induced cortisol responses, and eyewitness identification performance

“…Participants in the low‐stress condition received a control MAST. Measuring participants' salivary cortisol stress level and examining high versus low cortisol responders furthermore allowed us to assess individual differences in the responsiveness to the stress manipulation in stimulating the HPA axis (Meyer et al, ; Smeets, Dziobek, & Wolf, ). In line with neurobiological research on the effects of stress on memory, we predicted that stress would have a positive effect on eyewitness identification performance.…”

Patients with chronic insomnia have selective impairments in memory that are modulated by cortisol

“…For example, the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis positively or negatively affects memory performance through changes in the levels of glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol in humans) in an inverted U-shaped doseresponse curve (Wirth, 2015). Glucocorticoids act on the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex (Meyer, Smeets, Giesbrecht, Quaedflieg, & Merckelbach, 2013;Ter Horst et al, 2013;van Ast et al, 2013;Wirth, 2015). In addition, hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitarythyroid (HPT) axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis influence memory function (Galea et al, 2013;Gan & Pearce, 2012;Grigorova & Sherwin, 2012).…”

Development and Validation of the Numeracy Understanding in Medicine Instrument Short Form

“…However, we posit that individual level health numeracy assessments, when feasible, can inform additional tailored communication strategies and research related to those strategies. The use of health numeracy assessments to tailor communication strategies must consider the potential interaction between stress, learning and test performance [13, 14]. …”