Impairments of Spatial Working Memory and Attention Following Acute Psychosocial Stress

Olver, James S; Pinney, Myra; Maruff, Paul; Norman, Trevor R.

doi:10.1002/smi.2533

Cited by 90 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Laboratory-induced stressors such as social stress and restraint stress in animal studies also produce structural changes (e.g., dendritic remodeling) in the hippocampus (Buwalda et al 2005; Luine et al 1996). In humans, laboratory-induced stress (e.g., Trier Social Stress Test) produces impairments in memory, attention, and executive functioning (Kirschbaum et al 1996; Olver et al 2014; Plessow et al 2011). Although previous studies demonstrate that psychosocial stressors impair working memory (Olver et al 2014; Schoofs et al 2008), we did not find an association between stress and working memory in the present cohort.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association of perceived stress and verbal memory is greater in HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected women

et al. 2015

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In contrast to findings from cohorts comprised primarily of HIV-infected men, verbal memory deficits are the largest cognitive deficit found in HIV-infected women from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS), and this deficit is not explained by depressive symptoms or substance abuse. HIV-infected women may be at greater risk for verbal memory deficits due to a higher prevalence of cognitive risk factors such as high psychosocial stress and lower socioeconomic status. Here, we investigate the association between perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and verbal memory performance using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) in 1009 HIV-infected and 496 at-risk HIV-uninfected WIHS participants. Participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery which yielded seven cognitive domain scores, including a primary outcome of verbal memory. HIV infection was not associated with a higher prevalence of high perceived stress (i.e., PSS-10 score in the top tertile) but was associated with worse performance on verbal learning (p<0.01) and memory (p<0.001), as well as attention (p=0.02). Regardless of HIV status, high stress was associated with poorer performance in those cognitive domains (p’s< 0.05) as well as processing speed (p=0.01) and executive function (p<0.01). A significant HIV by stress interaction was found only for the verbal memory domain (p=0.02); among HIV-infected women only, high stress was associated with lower performance (p’s<0.001). That association was driven by the delayed verbal memory measure in particular. These findings suggest that high levels of perceived stress contribute to the deficits in verbal memory observed in WIHS women.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association of perceived stress and verbal memory is greater in HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected women

et al. 2015

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“…19) impairs performance of a spatial delayed response working memory task, but has no effect on performance of a spatial discrimination task. Human subjects exposed to an acute social stress also exhibit impairments in working memory and attention, for example 27 , indicating that this effect is found across many species.…”

Section: Acute Stress Exposure Rapidly Impairs Higher Pfc Functions Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress weakens prefrontal networks: molecular insults to higher cognition

2015

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A variety of cognitive disorders are worsened by stress exposure and involve dysfunction of the newly evolved prefrontal cortex (PFC). Exposure to acute, uncontrollable stress increases catecholamine release in PFC, reducing neuronal firing and impairing cognitive abilities. High levels of noradrenergic α1-adrenoceptor and dopaminergic D1 receptor stimulation activate feedforward calcium–protein kinase C and cyclic AMP–protein kinase A signaling, which open potassium channels to weaken synaptic efficacy in spines. In contrast, high levels of catecholamines strengthen the primary sensory cortices, amygdala and striatum, rapidly flipping the brain from reflective to reflexive control of behavior. These mechanisms are exaggerated by chronic stress exposure, where architectural changes lead to persistent loss of PFC function. Understanding these mechanisms has led to the successful translation of prazosin and guanfacine for treating stress-related disorders. Dysregulation of stress signaling pathways by genetic insults likely contributes to PFC deficits in schizophrenia, while age-related insults initiate interacting vicious cycles that increase vulnerability to Alzheimer’s degeneration.

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“…In the brain, prolonged periods of physiological and psychological stress are associated with decreased glucose availability, leading to impaired decision making abilities, reaction time, changes in attention and memory and learning deficits (Baran et al, 2009; Yuen et al, 2012; Olver et al, 2015). In rodents, performance in challenging tasks reduced glucose availability in several brain areas, particularly in the hippocampus (McNay et al, 2000), with more demanding tasks resulting in greater decreases compared to less demanding tasks (McNay et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional Ketosis Affects Metabolism and Behavior in Sprague-Dawley Rats in Both Control and Chronic Stress Environments

Brownlow

Jung

Moore

et al. 2017

Front. Mol. Neurosci.

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Nutritional ketosis may enhance cerebral energy metabolism and has received increased interest as a way to improve or preserve performance and resilience. Most studies to date have focused on metabolic or neurological disorders while anecdotal evidence suggests that ketosis may enhance performance in the absence of underlying dysfunction. Moreover, decreased availability of glucose in the brain following stressful events is associated with impaired cognition, suggesting the need for more efficient energy sources. We tested the hypotheses that ketosis induced by endogenous or exogenous ketones could: (a) augment cognitive outcomes in healthy subjects; and (b) prevent stress-induced detriments in cognitive parameters. Adult, male, Sprague Dawley rats were used to investigate metabolic and behavioral outcomes in 3 dietary conditions: ketogenic (KD), ketone supplemented (KS), or NIH-31 control diet in both control or chronic stress conditions. Acute administration of exogenous ketones resulted in reduction in blood glucose and sustained ketosis. Chronic experiments showed that in control conditions, only KD resulted in pronounced metabolic alterations and improved performance in the novel object recognition test. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response revealed that KD-fed rats maintained peripheral ketosis despite increases in glucose whereas no diet effects were observed in ACTH or CORT levels. Both KD and KS-fed rats decreased escape latencies on the third day of water maze, whereas only KD prevented stress-induced deficits on the last testing day and improved probe test performance. Stress-induced decrease in hippocampal levels of β-hydroxybutyrate was attenuated in KD group while both KD and KS prevented stress effects on BDNF levels. Mitochondrial enzymes associated with ketogenesis were increased in both KD and KS hippocampal samples and both endothelial and neuronal glucose transporters were affected by stress but only in the control diet group. Our results highlight the complex relationship between peripheral metabolism, behavioral performance and biochemical changes in the hippocampus. Endogenous ketosis improved behavioral and metabolic parameters associated with energy metabolism and cognition while ketone supplementation replicated the biochemical effects within the hippocampus but only showed modest effects on behavioral improvements.

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Impairments of Spatial Working Memory and Attention Following Acute Psychosocial Stress

Cited by 90 publications

References 61 publications

The association of perceived stress and verbal memory is greater in HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected women

The association of perceived stress and verbal memory is greater in HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected women

Stress weakens prefrontal networks: molecular insults to higher cognition

Nutritional Ketosis Affects Metabolism and Behavior in Sprague-Dawley Rats in Both Control and Chronic Stress Environments

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