The Role of Endocrine Stress Systems and Sex Hormones in the Enhancing Effects of Stress on Mental Rotation Capabilities

Abstract

The possible effects of stress and neurobiological stress mechanisms on visuospatial abilities remain largely unknown. In the current study, we examined the combined effect of sex hormones and both the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA-A) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) on stress-induced changes in visuospatial performance. A total of 107 participants completed a mental rotation task and were subsequently exposed to either to the Trier social stress test (TSST) or to a control condition before completing the mental rotation task again. HPA-A and SNS reactivity of the participants were evaluated by measuring salivary alpha amylase (sAA; an SNS activation marker) and cortisol in four saliva samples. Pre-stress levels of sex hormones (progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone) were also measured. The TSST enhanced mental rotation performance, and this enhancement was negatively correlated with baseline estradiol levels and positively correlated with the level of cortisol reactivity among men. In addition, controlling for baseline levels of testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone diminished this effect of stress. These results imply that the stress-induced facilitation of mental rotation performance is modulated by baseline sex hormones and provide preliminary support to the notion that a complex interaction between sex hormones and neuroendocrine stress mechanisms mediates the influence of stress on visuospatial performance.

Reproducible stability of verbal and spatial functions along the menstrual cycle

“…They may however become potentiated for some people or in some contexts. For instance, a recent study suggests that estradiol reduces the enhancing effects of acute stress on mental rotation abilities [ 58 ]. While about a third of subjects in our studies reported mild to moderate chronic stressors, like examinations, work or relationship problems, no acute stressor was implemented during the experimental sessions.…”

State Anxiety and Procrastination: The Moderating Role of Neuroendocrine Factors

“…Various studies investigated the joint influence of stress-induced activation of the HPA axis and the SNS and gonadal hormones on various psychological outcomes through the activation of the stress system. For example, gonadal hormones have been shown to modulate the effects of a psychosocial stressor on declarative memory [ 49 ] and on visuospatial abilities [ 50 ]. Other studies demonstrate that the neuroendocrine reproductive axis (measured by T levels) and stress axis (measured by C levels) interact to regulate dominance.…”

The Relationship Between the Menstrual Cycle, Oral Contraceptives, and Executive Function – Inhibition, Updating, and Shifting

“…The results of those cognitive tasks were included in our meta-analysis. Those studies include Bradshaw et al (2020) who found a lack of perseverance in pursuing cognitive tasks for OC users; Cohen et al. (2020) who tested how sex hormones influence the action of stress on the results of visuospatial tasks; and Kuhlmann and Wolf (2005) who showed that OC use diminishes the brain reaction to elevated levels of cortisol.…”

“…The results of those cognitive tasks were included in our meta-analysis. Those studies include Bradshaw et al (2020) who found a lack of perseverance in pursuing cognitive tasks for OC users; Cohen et al (2020) who tested how sex hormones influence the action of stress on the results of visuospatial tasks; and Kuhlmann and Wolf (2005) who showed that OC use diminishes the brain reaction to elevated levels of cortisol. Due to the rarity of research studies that controlled for active and inactive phases of OC, we decided to calculate the results of both phases together for OC users when these data were available.…”