Stress Induction and Visual Working Memory Performance: The Effects of Emotional and Non-Emotional Stimuli

Khayyer, Zahra; Nejati, Vahid; Fathabadi, Jalil

doi:10.5812/bhs.57652

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 47 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…However, accuracy and RT indices were found to be worsening for negative words in the experimental condition. As regards negative words, our findings are in line with Moran's (2016) and Khayyer et al. (2017) studies that demonstrated that increased stress and anxiety are associated with weaker WM performance (emotional impairment hypothesis).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

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Examining the effect of stress induction on auditory working memory performance for emotional and non-emotional stimuli in female students

Khayyer

Azad²,

Arani

et al. 2021

Heliyon

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Background Theoretical frameworks have shown that stress might influence working memory in different ways. Previous research has investigated the effect of stress on female's working memory but there is lack of evidence regarding the impact of emotional aspects. Objectives This study examined the effect of stress induction on auditory working memory (AWM) performance among university students for emotional (positive and negative) and non-emotional (neutral) stimuli. Methods A sample of 102 female students at the Universities of Isfahan, Iran was selected using convenience sampling in 2018. Participants completed the demographic information sheets, then, they were randomly assigned into the experimental and control groups. The stress was induced by the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test (SECPT). An n-back task was presented pre and post of stress induction, to evaluate the AWM performance (accuracy and reaction time). The research data were analyzed using mixed-model ANOVA. Results Both accuracy and reaction time (RT) scores were found to be enhanced for positive words in the experimental condition. However, accuracy and RT indices were found to be worsening for negative words in the experimental condition. Conclusions This study supports the idea that stress influences AWM performance depend on emotionally-valenced stimuli, which may help us to better understand the underlying mechanisms of memory processing.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Some studies have also reported that stress can increase memory performance ( Cahill et al., 2003 ; Smeets et al., 2008 ; Lukasik et al., 2019 ). However, other studies have shown that stress can impair memory performance ( Buchanan and Tranel, 2008 ; Colman, 2015 ; Khayyer et al., 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Examining the effect of stress induction on auditory working memory performance for emotional and non-emotional stimuli in female students

Khayyer

Azad²,

Arani

et al. 2021

Heliyon

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Previous studies have indicated that stress causes depression, anxiety, and mood disorders [ 35 ]. Also, stress harms cognitive functions by increasing the secretion of glucocorticoids that activate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis [ 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of a Traditional Preparation Containing Piper nigrum L. and Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B.Fedtsch. on Immobility Stress-Induced Memory Loss in Mice

Rashedinia

Mojarad

Khodaei

et al. 2021

BioMed Research International

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Objective. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, age-related, and neurodegenerative disease characterized by mental decline. The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unclear, but cholinergic dysfunction, protein accumulation, and oxidative stress are among the most important hypotheses. The main purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract combination of these two medicinal plants, black pepper and cumin (as a related formulation in traditional Persian medicine), on memory and learning of an immobilized stress animal model. Methods. In this study, hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of cumin and black pepper fruits were prepared. Six groups of mice were treated orally for 2 weeks: control group, immobility stress, and stress-induced immobility mice received different doses of the hydroalcoholic extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) and aqueous extract (100 and 200 mg/kg). The shuttle box, novel object detection, and rotarod test were used to evaluate memory and learning. The activities of acetylcholinesterase, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the brain tissue. Results. Immobility stress significantly reduced learning and motor coordination. Furthermore, MDA levels and acetylcholinesterase activity were significantly increased, while CAT and SOD activities were significantly reduced in the brain of immobility-induced stress mice. Other findings indicated that hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg) of cumin and black pepper fruits have an improving effect on animal motor coordination and learning ability, GSH content, and CAT, SOD, and acetylcholinesterase enzyme function in comparison with stress groups ( p < 0.05 ). Conclusion. The hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of cumin and black pepper fruits have protective effects against stress-induced memory deficit and oxidative stress and may have beneficial therapeutic effect in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

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“…This can be explained by the fact that the attention system in anxious people has bias towards negative stimuli, in a way that these people are more sensitive to stressful and threatening stimuli. Furthermore, the perceived stress threshold in women is lower than that of men, while women's limbic system is more active, which enables them to experience higher levels of cortisol in stressful situations (Khayyer, Nejati, & Fathabadi, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of compassion‐focused group therapy on psychological symptoms in mothers of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder children: A pilot study

Navab

Dehghani

Salehi

2019

Couns and Psychother Res

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Background Evidence suggests that attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may accentuate varying psychological symptoms in parents. Since mothers are the most likely individuals interacting with ADHD children, it is highly probable that they will be influenced the most. Objectives This pilot study aimed to determine the effect of compassion‐focused group therapy on psychological symptoms of mothers of ADHD children. Methods A pre‐test–post‐test control‐grouped, quasi‐experimental study was carried out on a sample of 20 mothers of children with ADHD who were referred to the Health Centers of Isfahan City in Spring 2017. Prior to the intervention, the mothers’ psychological symptoms were recorded in both groups using the DASS‐21 questionnaire. Then, the mothers (n = 10) in the treatment group underwent 8 weekly sessions of 90‐min, compassion‐focused therapy. Both groups were post‐tested 1 week after the intervention. Finally, the collected data were analysed in SPSS‐23. Results The results of the study showed that, after the intervention, the mothers’ psychological symptoms in the treatment group significantly decreased (pre‐test: 36.10 ± 7.96 vs. post‐test: 33.40 ± 4.28, p value < 0.05), while no significant change was observed in the control group. Depression and anxiety levels showed a significant decrease in the treatment group as compared to the control group (p value < 0.05), while participants’ stress levels remained the same in both groups (p value > 0.05). Conclusion The findings revealed that compassion‐focused therapy resulted in an increase in self‐compassion and inner calmness levels, and a decrease in the use of avoidance coping strategy on the one hand, and the need to regulate emotions and ruminations on the other hand, among the mothers of ADHD children, which subsequently led to a decrease in psychological symptoms.

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Stress Induction and Visual Working Memory Performance: The Effects of Emotional and Non-Emotional Stimuli

Abstract: Background: Some studies have shown working memory impairment following stressful situations. Also, researchers have found that working memory performance depends on many different factors such as emotional load of stimuli and gender.

Cited by 6 publications

References 47 publications

Examining the effect of stress induction on auditory working memory performance for emotional and non-emotional stimuli in female students

Examining the effect of stress induction on auditory working memory performance for emotional and non-emotional stimuli in female students

The Effect of a Traditional Preparation Containing Piper nigrum L. and Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B.Fedtsch. on Immobility Stress-Induced Memory Loss in Mice

Effect of compassion‐focused group therapy on psychological symptoms in mothers of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder children: A pilot study

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