Individual differences in cortisol levels and performance on a test of executive function in men and women

McCormick, Cheryl M.; Lewis, Eleanor T.; Somley, B.; Kahan, Todd A.

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.01.020

Cited by 57 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…This has been observed for studies of the acquisition and retention of fear conditioning in humans (Zorawski et al 2005;Jackson et al 2006) and rodents (Wood et al 2001), as well as the consolidation (Andreano and Cahill 2006) and retrieval (Wolf et al 2001) of verbal material. The effects of cortisol on working memory have also shown a sexually dimorphic pattern, such that a positive relationship is found in men, while the relationship in women is negative (McCormick et al 2007). At least one other study, however, has noted relationships between cortisol and memory, which are sex independent (Park et al 2008).…”

Section: Acute Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex influences on the neurobiology of learning and memory

Andreano¹,

Cahill²

2009

Learn. Mem.

609

400

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In essentially every domain of neuroscience, the generally implicit assumption that few, if any, meaningful differences exist between male and female brain function is being challenged. Here we address how this development is influencing studies of the neurobiology of learning and memory. While it has been commonly held that males show an advantage on spatial tasks, and females on verbal tasks, there is increasing evidence that sex differences are more widespread than previously supposed. Differing performance between the sexes have been observed on a number of common learning tasks in both the human and animal literature, many neither purely spatial nor verbal. We review sex differences reported in various areas to date, while attempting to identify common features of sexually dimorphic tasks, and to place these differences in a neurobiological context. This discussion focuses on studies of four classes of memory tasks for which sex differences have been frequently reported: spatial, verbal, autobiographical, and emotional memory. We conclude that the female verbal advantage extends into numerous tasks, including tests of spatial and autobiographical abilities, but that a small but significant advantage may exist for general episodic memory. We further suggest that for some tasks, stress evokes sex differences, which are not normally observed, and that these differences are mediated largely by interactions between stress and sex hormones.Sex influences on brain function are ubiquitous. Differences between the sexes have been documented at every level of neuroscience, from single neurons in cell culture to systems level processes as measured by neuroimaging. In some cases, consideration of sex may significantly alter, even reverse, conclusions about brain function drawn from the study of one sex alone (Cahill 2006). In some fields, such as the study of drug addiction, the evidence for sex differences is so strong that consideration of sex as a factor is becoming the norm, rather than the exception (Wetherington 2007).The claim that these neurobiological sex differences extend to the behavioral level has typically been more controversial. A recent review of the literature on this topic warns against the ''costs of overinflated claims of gender differences.'' The review holds that overall ''males and females are alike on most-but not all-psychological variables'' (Hyde 2005), but notes exceptions where sex does have an effect, including sexual and aggressive behaviors. Still, given how broadly sex differences are distributed on the neural level, it seems unlikely that their behavioral effects would be restricted solely to these domains.One area of behavior not considered in Hyde's review is the influence of sex on learning and memory. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that an understanding of the neurobiological and cognitive consequences of sex is relevant across this field. In the review that follows, behavioral evidence indicating differences between men and women from numerous memory tasks will be co...

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Section: Acute Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex influences on the neurobiology of learning and memory

Andreano¹,

Cahill²

2009

Learn. Mem.

609

400

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Indeed, longitudinal study of associations between childhood cognitive performance and later cortisol levels in adulthood have shown that lower cognitive ability in childhood predicted lower morning levels of cortisol and a blunted cortisol awakening response later in life (Power et al 2008). Prefrontal cortex and amygdala housing of substantial corticosteroid receptors may similarly account for variability in cognitive domains; executive function, working memory and emotion regulation (McCormick et al 2007;Wingenfeld et al 2011).…”

Section: Neurobiology Of Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress, Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Green

Girshkin

Teroganova

et al. 2014

Behavioral Neurobiology of Stress-Related Disorders

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The role of stress in precipitating psychotic episodes in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder has long been acknowledged. However, the neurobiological mechanism/s of this association have remained elusive. Current neurodevelopmental models of psychosis implicate early dysfunction in biological systems regulating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and immune function, with long-term effects on the development of the brain networks responsible for higher order cognitive processes and stress reactivity in later life. There is also increasing evidence of childhood trauma in psychosis, and its impact on the development of brain systems regulating stress. These findings are emerging in the context of a new era of epigenetic methods facilitating the study of environmental effects on gene expression. The evidence is thus converging: exposure to stress at critical periods in life may be an important factor in the development of the brain dysfunction that represents psychosis vulnerability, rather than merely interacting with an independent 'biological vulnerability' to manifest in psychosis.

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“…More recently, research has examined the association between heightened cortisol and tasks reliant on prefrontal cortical activity, demonstrating a link between excess cortisol and executive dysfunction (e.g. Lee et al, 2007;McCormick, Lewis, Somley, & Kahan, 2007). In addition to cortisol effects associated with chronic stress, research has demonstrated that acute stressors result in heightened cortisol levels (Dickerson & Kemeny, 2004), and in the co-occurrence of changes in cortisol and cognitive functioning (Schoofs, Preuß, & Wolf, 2008).…”

Section: Potential Role Of Stress In Neuropsychological Impairmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress, Coping and Cognitive Deficits in Women After Surgery for Breast Cancer

Reid-Arndt

Cox

2012

J Clin Psychol Med Settings

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Research on neuropsychological difficulties among cancer patients has focused on chemotherapy as a primary cause, yet several studies have now shown that some patients evidence cognitive weaknesses prior to chemotherapy. As an alternative to the 'chemo-brain' theory, this study examined the hypothesis that stress and coping style may be associated with observed neuropsychological difficulties among female cancer patients. Thirty-six women completed neuropsychological testing and psychological questionnaires following surgery for breast cancer and prior to any subsequent treatments. Twenty-seven percent of participants evidenced deficits on at least one measure of verbal fluency, and 14% of participants were impaired on at least one memory measure. Self-reported stress was correlated with deficits in memory, verbal fluency, and attention. Subsequent mediational analyses indicated that use of passive coping styles may underlie this relationship between stress and neuropsychological deficits. These findings highlight the potential relevance of psychological mechanisms, such as coping style, in cancer patients' experience of neuropsychological deficits.

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Individual differences in cortisol levels and performance on a test of executive function in men and women

Cited by 57 publications

References 52 publications

Sex influences on the neurobiology of learning and memory

Sex influences on the neurobiology of learning and memory

Stress, Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Stress, Coping and Cognitive Deficits in Women After Surgery for Breast Cancer

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