Acute Stress Improves Concentration Performance-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Acute Stress Improves Concentration Performance

Published:2020-03 Issue:2 Volume:67 Page:88-98
ISSN:1618-3169
Container-title:Experimental Psychology
language:en
Short-container-title:Experimental Psychology

Author:

Degroote Cathy¹,Schwaninger Adrian²³,Heimgartner Nadja⁴,Hedinger Patrik⁵,Ehlert Ulrike⁶,Wirtz Petra H.¹^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Biological Work and Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany

2. School of Applied Psychology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Olten, Switzerland

3. Center for Adaptive Security Research and Applications (CASRA), Zurich, Switzerland

4. Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

5. Clienia Littenheid AG, Private Hospital for Psychiatric and Psychotherapy, Littenheid, Switzerland

6. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract

Abstract. Acute stress can have both detrimental and beneficial effects on cognitive processing, but effects on concentration performance remain unclear. Here, we investigate the effects of acute psychosocial stress on concentration performance and possible underlying physiological and psychological mechanisms. The study sample comprised 47 healthy male participants who were randomly assigned either to a psychosocial stress situation (Trier Social Stress Test) or a neutral control task. Concentration performance was assessed using the d2 Test of Attention before and 30 min after the stress or control task. Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase were repeatedly measured before and up to 1 hr after stress. We repeatedly assessed state anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and anticipatory cognitive stress appraisal using the Primary Appraisal Secondary Appraisal questionnaire. The stress group showed a significantly stronger improvement of concentration performance compared to the control group ( p = .042). Concentration performance improvement was predicted by increased state anxiety ( p = .020) and lower cortisol (stress) changes ( p = .043). Neither changes in alpha-amylase nor cognitive stress appraisal did relate to concentration performance. Our results show improved concentration performance after acute psychosocial stress induction that was predicted by higher state anxiety increases and lower cortisol increases. This points to a potential modulating role of specific psycho-emotional and physiological factors with opposite effects.

Publisher

Hogrefe Publishing Group

Subject

General Psychology,Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous),Experimental and Cognitive Psychology,General Medicine

Link

https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/pdf/10.1027/1618-3169/a000481

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