Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
8 p.
Publication Date
10-2008
Publisher
Elsevier
Source Publication
Physiology and Behavior
Source ISSN
0031-9384
Original Item ID
doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.04.027; Shelves: QP351 .P55 Memorial Periodicals
Abstract
We examined the relationship between acute stress and prefrontal-cortex (PFC) based working memory (WM) systems using behavioral (Experiment 1) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI; Experiment 2) paradigms. Subjects performed a delayed-response item-recognition task, with alternating blocks of high and low WM demand trials. During scanning, participants performed this task under three stress conditions: cold stress (induced by cold-water hand-immersion), a room temperature water control (induced by tepid-water hand-immersion), and no-water control (no hand-immersion). Performance was affected by WM demand, but not stress. Cold stress elicited greater salivary cortisol readings in behavioral subjects, and greater PFC signal change in fMRI subjects, than control conditions. These results suggest that, under stress, increases in PFC activity may be necessary to mediate cognitive processes that maintain behavioral organization.
Recommended Citation
Porcelli, Anthony J.; Cruz, Daniel; Wenberg, Karen; Patterson, Michael D.; Biswal, Bharat B.; and Rypma, Bart, "The Effects of Acute Stress on Human Prefrontal Working Memory Systems" (2008). Psychology Faculty Research and Publications. 91.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/psych_fac/91
Comments
Accepted version. Physiology and Behavior, Vol. 95, No. 3 (October 2008): 282-289. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.04.027. © 2008 Elsevier. Used with permission.