The influence of endogenous cortisol on a task switching task: an ERP-study
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1
University of Trier, Germany
Little is known about stress effects on cognitive functions such as cognitive control. Cognitive control is the ability to coordinate one’s thoughts and actions in accordance with current goals. A method to measure cognitive control is the task switching paradigm. Task switching requires the subjects to switch frequently between two simple tasks. Subjects take longer to respond after a task switch compared to a task-repetition trial. These switch costs are an index of cognitive control. This study investigates the influence of an acute stressor on cognitive control. Stress was induced by the socially evaluated cold-pressure test in 24 male subjects. For three minutes they had to hold one hand in cold water, while being socially evaluated. 12 subjects put their hands in warm water (control condition). Based on their cortisol response the stressed subjects were divided into a responder and non-responder group. Before and after this procedure subjects performed a task switching paradigm. Cortisol was measured 8 times with salivettes prior, during and after the experiment. EEG was measured throughout the experiment from 32 electrodes. Artifact free event-related potentials were extracted for switch and non-switch conditions at each electrode. Additionally reaction times were measured. Statistical analysis for the reaction time revealed that cortisol responders show increased switch costs after the stressor, whereas non-responders reduced their switch costs after the stress induction. Electrocortically, responders showed a reduced CNV after stress compared to non-responders and control subjects. The data suggest that acute stress leads to a reduction in cognitive control but only in those subjects who show a clear activation of the HPA-axis. Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, International Research Training Group 'Neurobiology of Stress'.
Keywords:
cognitive control,
ERP
Conference:
XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI), Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 25 Sep - 29 Sep, 2011.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Poster Sessions: Performance Monitoring and Cognitive Control
Citation:
Naumann
E,
Fechtner
J and
Dierolf
A
(2011). The influence of endogenous cortisol on a task switching task: an ERP-study.
Conference Abstract:
XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2011.207.00256
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Received:
21 Nov 2011;
Published Online:
28 Nov 2011.