1
|
Xu YP, Fu JC, Hong ZL, Zeng DF, Guo CQ, Li P, Wu JX. Psychological stressors involved in the pathogenesis of premature ovarian insufficiency and potential intervention measures. Gynecol Endocrinol 2024; 40:2360085. [PMID: 38813955 DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2024.2360085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a common gynecological endocrine disease, which seriously affects women's physical and mental health and fertility, and its incidence is increasing year by year. With the development of social economy and technology, psychological stressors such as anxiety and depression caused by social, life and environmental factors may be one of the risk factors for POI. We used PubMed to search peer-reviewed original English manuscripts published over the last 10 years to identify established and experimental studies on the relationship between various types of stress and decreased ovarian function. Oxidative stress, follicular atresia, and excessive activation of oocytes, caused by Stress-associated factors may be the main causes of ovarian function damage. This article reviews the relationship between psychological stressors and hypoovarian function and the possible early intervention measures in order to provide new ideas for future clinical treatment and intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Pei Xu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian Province, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ji-Chun Fu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian Province, China
| | - Zhi-Lin Hong
- Clinical Laboratory Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - De-Fei Zeng
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian Province, China
| | - Chao-Qin Guo
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian Province, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian Province, China
| | - Jin-Xiang Wu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Finseth TT, Smith B, Van Steenis AL, Glahn DC, Johnson M, Ruttle P, Shirtcliff BA, Shirtcliff EA. When virtual reality becomes psychoneuroendocrine reality: A stress(or) review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 166:107061. [PMID: 38701607 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
This review article was awarded the Dirk Hellhammer award from ISPNE in 2023. It explores the dynamic relationship between stressors and stress from a historical view as well as a vision towards the future of stress research via virtual reality (VR). We introduce the concept of a "syncytium," a permeable boundary that blurs the distinction between stress and stressor, in order to understand why the field of stress biology continues to inadequately measure stress alone as a proxy for the force of external stressors. Using Virtual Reality (VR) as an illustrative example to explicate the black box of stressors, we examine the distinction between 'immersion' and 'presence' as analogous terms for stressor and stress, respectively. We argue that the conventional psychological approaches to stress measurement and appraisal theory unfortunately fall short in quantifying the force of the stressor, leading to reverse causality fallacies. Further, the concept of affordances is introduced as an ecological or holistic tool to measure and design a stressor's force, bridging the gap between the external environment and an individual's physiological response to stress. Affordances also serve to ameliorate shortcomings in stress appraisal by integrating ecological interdependencies. By combining VR and psychobiological measures, this paper aims to unravel the complexity of the stressor-stress syncytium, highlighting the necessity of assessing both the internal and external facets to gain a holistic understanding of stress physiology and shift away from reverse causality reasoning. We find that the utility of VR extends beyond presence to include affordance-based measures of immersion, which can effectively model stressor force. Future research should prioritize the development of tools that can measure both immersion and presence, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of how external stressors interact with individual psychological states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brandon Smith
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Oregon, USA
| | | | - David C Glahn
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA
| | - Megan Johnson
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Oregon, USA
| | - Paula Ruttle
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Oregon, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hogenelst K, Özsezen S, Kleemann R, Verschuren L, Stuldreher I, Bottenheft C, van Erp J, Brouwer AM. Seven robust and easy to obtain biomarkers to measure acute stress. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 38:100789. [PMID: 38799794 PMCID: PMC11126813 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
With the purpose of identifying a sensitive, robust, and easy-to-measure set of biomarkers to assess stress reactivity, we here study a large set of relatively easy to obtain markers reflecting subjective, autonomic nervous system (ANS), endocrine, and inflammatory responses to acute social stress (n = 101). A subset of the participants was exposed to another social stressor the next day (n = 48) while being measured in the same way. Acute social stress was induced following standardized procedures. The markers investigated were self-reported positive and negative affect, heart rate, electrodermal activity, salivary cortisol, and ten inflammatory markers both in capillary plasma and salivary samples, including IL-22 which has not been studied in response to acute stress in humans before. Robust effects (significant effect in the same direction for both days) were found for self-reported negative affect, heart rate, electrodermal activity, plasma IL-5, plasma IL-22, salivary IL-8 and salivary IL-10. Of these seven markers, the participants' IL-22 responses on the first day were positively correlated to those on the second day. We found no correlations between salivary and capillary plasma stress responses for any of the ten cytokines and somewhat unexpectedly, cytokine responses in saliva seemed more pronounced and more in line with previous literature than cytokines in capillary plasma. In sum, seven robust and easy to obtain biomarkers to measure acute stress response were identified and should be used in future stress research to detect and examine stress reactivity. This includes IL-22 in plasma as a promising novel marker.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koen Hogenelst
- Department of Human Performance, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, the Netherlands
| | - Serdar Özsezen
- Department of Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Robert Kleemann
- Department of Metabolic Health Research, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lars Verschuren
- Department of Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ivo Stuldreher
- Department of Human Performance, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, the Netherlands
| | - Charelle Bottenheft
- Department of Human Performance, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, the Netherlands
| | - Jan van Erp
- Department of Human Machine Teaming, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, the Netherlands
- Twente University, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie Brouwer
- Department of Human Performance, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, the Netherlands
- Department of Artificial Intelligence, Radboud University/Donders Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sarmiento LF, Lopes da Cunha P, Tabares S, Tafet G, Gouveia Jr A. Decision-making under stress: A psychological and neurobiological integrative model. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 38:100766. [PMID: 38694793 PMCID: PMC11061251 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the impact of stress on cognitive processes, particularly decision-making, is crucial as it underpins behaviors essential for survival. However, research in this domain has yielded disparate results, with inconsistencies evident across stress-induction paradigms and drug administration protocols designed to investigate specific stress pathways or neuromodulators. Building upon empirical studies, this research identifies a multifaceted matrix of variables contributing to the divergent findings. This matrix encompasses factors such as the temporal proximity between stressors and decision tasks, the nature of stressors and decision contexts, individual characteristics including psychobiological profiles and affective states at the time of decision-making and even cultural influences. In response to these complexities, we propose a comprehensive model that integrates these relevant factors and their intricate interplay to elucidate the mechanisms governing decision-making during stressful events. By synthesizing these insights, our model not only refines existing paradigms but also provides a framework for future study designs, offering avenues for theoretical advancements and translational developments in the field of stress's impact on cognitive functions. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the nuanced relationship between stress and decision-making, ultimately advancing our knowledge of cognitive processes under challenging conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Felipe Sarmiento
- BioTechMed Center, Brain & Mind Electrophysiology Laboratory, Multimedia Systems Department, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Pamela Lopes da Cunha
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sonia Tabares
- International Foundation for the Development of Neurosciences, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Tafet
- International Foundation for the Development of Neurosciences, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Texas A&M University, Texas, USA
| | - Amauri Gouveia Jr
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior, Federal University from Pará, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bae JH, Lee SH, Hong JH. Changes in the choice motive and emotional perception of chocolates in response to stress. Food Res Int 2024; 187:114378. [PMID: 38763650 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Although chocolates are often chosen for sensory pleasure, they are also selected to enhance mood and relieve emotional stress, or potentially chosen for its perceived health benefits if stress adversely affects physical well-being. This study aimed to investigate whether emotional stress influenced the motivations behind chocolate selection, subsequent liking, and emotional response. Participants were divided into a control group (n = 76) and a group with induced acute stress (n = 74). Stimuli were presented as dark chocolate packaging, each evoking sensory appeal, health, and emotional stress relief. Participants chose one stimulus from three options that they were most inclined to consume and evaluated the overall liking and emotional attributes of the stimuli. They also rated the overall liking and emotional attributes of three types of chocolates, each identical but paired with distinct stimuli. Their food attitudes were also assessed. Stress did not change the choice of stimuli, indicating that stress did not influence the motivation for chocolate selection. Instead, the choice of stimuli aligned with participants' food attitudes; those favoring sensory appeal and emotional stress relief prioritized pleasure in their usual food choices. Stress tended to increase liking and chocolate-associated positive emotions with sensory appeal, as opposed to others, to immediately alleviate negative emotions. The most robust motivation to consume chocolates was sensory pleasure, irrespective of stress, because of a preestablished association between sensory pleasure and mood enhancement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Hyun Bae
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Hyun Lee
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hee Hong
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Krupp KT, Yaeger JDW, Ledesma LJ, Withanage MHH, Gale JJ, Howe CB, Allen TJ, Sathyanesan M, Newton SS, Summers CH. Single administration of a psychedelic [(R)-DOI] influences coping strategies to an escapable social stress. Neuropharmacology 2024; 252:109949. [PMID: 38636726 PMCID: PMC11073902 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds have potentially rapid, long-lasting anxiolytic, antidepressive and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated whether the psychedelic compound (R)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine [(R)-DOI], a selective 5-HT2A receptor partial agonist, decreases stress-related behavior in male mice exposed to repeated social aggression. Additionally, we explored the likelihood that these behavioral changes are related to anti-inflammatory properties of [(R)-DOI]. Animals were subjected to the Stress Alternatives Model (SAM), an escapable social stress paradigm in which animals develop reactive coping strategies - remaining in the SAM arena (Stay) with a social aggressor, or dynamically initiated stress coping strategies that involve utilizing the escape holes (Escape) to avoid aggression. Mice expressing these behavioral phenotypes display behaviors like those in other social aggression models that separate animals into stress-vulnerable (as for Stay) or stress-resilient (as for Escape) groups, which have been shown to have distinct inflammatory responses to social stress. These results show that Stay animals have heightened cytokine gene expression, and both Stay and Escape mice exhibit plasma and neural concentrations of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) compared to unstressed control mice. Additionally, these results suggest that a single administration of (R)-DOI to Stay animals in low doses, can increase stress coping strategies such as increasing attention to the escape route, promoting escape behavior, and reducing freezing during socially aggressive interaction in the SAM. Lower single doses of (R)-DOI, in addition to shifting behavior to suggest anxiolytic effects, also concomitantly reduce plasma and limbic brain levels of the inflammatory cytokine TNFα.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin T Krupp
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Jazmine D W Yaeger
- Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA; Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
| | - Leighton J Ledesma
- Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA
| | | | - J J Gale
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Chase B Howe
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA
| | - Trevor J Allen
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA
| | - Monica Sathyanesan
- Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Samuel S Newton
- Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Cliff H Summers
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Frederiksen EH, Ramirez MVR, Moreno-Hay I, Miller CS, Carlson CR. Whole unstimulated salivary flow rate decreases during acute stressful condition. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2024; 137:594-603. [PMID: 38521649 DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2024.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the influence of acute stress on salivary flow using a validated stressor paradigm. STUDY DESIGN This uniform crossover study consisted of 40 healthy adults who underwent the Trier Social Stress Test, consisting of a 5-minute mental arithmetic task (MAT), and a nonstressful task (NST), consisting of a 5-minute free speech task. The order of the tasks was counterbalanced and unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) was measured in 2 groups of 20 participants during each 5-minute task condition, with a 10-minute washout period between tasks. At baseline, mathematical ability was self-reported and psychological distress was measured using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Heart rate (HR) and breathing rate (BR) were recorded during each task. RESULTS Age, sex, HR, BR, and psychological distress were similar between groups at baseline (P > .05). During the MAT, HR increased significantly and mean UWS flow rate decreased significantly compared with the NST (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS An acute psychobiological stressor task was associated with a rapid decrease in salivary flow in adults. Thus, stress can contribute to reduced salivary flow and should be considered as a factor during the diagnostic workup of patients who complain of a dry mouth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Isabel Moreno-Hay
- Orofacial Pain Center, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
| | - Craig S Miller
- Center for Oral Health Research, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
| | - Charles R Carlson
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
De Smet S, Int-Veen I, Vanhollebeke G, Pulopulos MM, Barth B, Pasche S, Baeken C, Nuerk HC, Plewnia C, Nieratschker V, Jochen Fallgatter A, Ehlis AC, Vanderhasselt MA, Rosenbaum D. Trait-dependent effects of theta burst stimulation after psychosocial stress: a sham-controlled study in healthy individuals. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 162:235-247. [PMID: 38556367 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous studies suggest that theta burst stimulation (TBS), a form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) might be a promising approach to modulate stress-reactive rumination and the associated psychophysiological stress response. Crucially, individuals showing higher levels of trait rumination might benefit more from prefrontal stimulation. METHODS In this sham-controlled study, 127 healthy individuals, with varying ruminative tendencies, received a single-session of intermittent TBS (iTBS), continuous TBS (cTBS) or sham TBS (sTBS) over the left DLPFC before being confronted with a Trier Social Stress Test. RESULTS Results showed significant TBS effects on salivary cortisol as a function of trait rumination. cTBS, as compared to sTBS and iTBS, resulted in an attenuated stress-induced cortisol response in high compared to low trait ruminators. Although independent of trait rumination levels, cTBS showed positive effects on stress-related changes in mood and, both cTBS and iTBS (versus sham) presented an enhanced heart rate recovery following the stressor. We found no evidence for (trait rumination-dependent) TBS effects on stress-reactive rumination, negative affect, subjective stress or heart rate variability. CONCLUSIONS cTBS shows beneficial effects on certain measures of stress, especially in high trait ruminators. SIGNIFICANCE These findings highlight the importance of accounting for individual differences when examining TBS effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie De Smet
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium; Brain Stimulation and Cognition (BSC) Lab, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Isabell Int-Veen
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Gert Vanhollebeke
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Belgium; Medical Imaging and Signal Processing (MEDISIP) Group, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Matias M Pulopulos
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Beatrix Barth
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Germany
| | - Sarah Pasche
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Germany
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium; Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Christian Plewnia
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Germany
| | - Vanessa Nieratschker
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Germany
| | - Andreas Jochen Fallgatter
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Germany
| | - Ann-Christine Ehlis
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Germany
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium
| | - David Rosenbaum
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Santos-Carrasco D, De la Casa LG. Stressing out! Effects of acute stress on prepulse inhibition and working memory. Psychophysiology 2024:e14599. [PMID: 38691020 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex serves as a pre-cognitive marker of sensorimotor gating, and its deficit may predict cognitive impairments. Startle reflex is modulated by many factors. Among them, stress has been a topic of interest, but its effects on both pre-cognitive and cognitive variables continue to yield divergent results. This study aims to analyze the effect of acute stress on PPI of the startle reflex and cognitive function (working memory, attention, inhibition, and verbal fluency). Participants were exposed to the MAST stress induction protocol or a stress-neutral task: stress group (n = 54) or control group (n = 54). Following stress induction, participants' startle responses were recorded, and cognition was assessed. The results revealed that participants in the stress group exhibited greater startle magnitude, lower PPI, and lower scores in working memory tests compared with the control group. Additionally, a correlation was found between working memory and PPI across all the participants, independent of stress group. These findings support the notion that after stress, both greater startle magnitude and diminished PPI could play an adaptive role by allowing for increased processing of stimuli potentially dangerous and stress-related. Similarly, our results lend support to the hypothesis that lower PPI may be predictive of cognitive impairment. Considering the impact of stress on both pre-cognitive (PPI) and cognitive (working memory) variables, we discuss the possibility that the effect of stress on PPI occurs through motivational priming and emphasize the relevance of considering stress in both basic and translational science.
Collapse
|
10
|
Gehrig TW, Berk LS, Dudley RI, Smith JA, Gharibvand L, Lohman EB. The feigned annoyance and frustration test to activate the sympathoadrenal medullary system. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2024; 18:100232. [PMID: 38596409 PMCID: PMC11002885 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
When perceived as threatening, social interactions have been shown to trigger the sympathoadrenal medullary system as well as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis resulting in a physiologic stress response. The allostatic load placed on human health and physiology in the context of acute and chronic stress can have profound health consequences. The purpose of this study was to develop a protocol for a lab-based stress stimulus using social-evaluative threat. While several valid, stress-stimulating protocols exist, we sought to develop one that triggered a physiologic response, did not require significant lab resources, and could be completed in around 10 min. We included 53 participants (29 men and 24 women) and exposed them to a modified version of the Stroop Color-Word Interference Task during which the participants were made to feel they were performing the task poorly while the lead researcher feigned annoyance and frustration. After exposure to this Feigned Annoyance and Frustration (FAF) Test, both the men and women in this study demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful increase in subjective stress on the visual analog scale. Additionally, the men in this study demonstrated a statistically significant increase in heart rate and salivary α-amylase concentrations after exposure to the test. The women in this study did not demonstrate a statistically significant increase in the physiologic stress biomarkers. This protocol for the FAF Test shows promise to researchers with limited time and resources who are interested in experimentally activating the sympathoadrenal medullary system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ted W. Gehrig
- Loma Linda University School of Allied Health Professions Department of Physical Therapy, 24951 N. Circle Dr., A-620, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Lee S. Berk
- Loma Linda University School of Allied Health Professions, And School of Medicine, 24951 N. Circle Dr., A-620, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Robert I. Dudley
- Loma Linda University School of Allied Health Professions Department of Physical Therapy, 24951 N. Circle Dr., A-620, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Jo A. Smith
- Department of Physical Therapy, Chapman University, 9401 Jeronimo Rd., Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Lida Gharibvand
- Loma Linda University School of Allied Health Professions, 24951 N. Circle Dr., A-620, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Everett B. Lohman
- Loma Linda University School of Allied Health Professions Department of Physical Therapy, 24951 N. Circle Dr., A-620, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lorenz TI, Schreuders E, Stuldreher IV, Thammasan N, Brouwer AM, Giletta M. The Interplay of Peer Victimization and Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity on Acute Inflammatory Stress Responses in Adolescence. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024; 52:757-771. [PMID: 38008787 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01156-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the extent to which adolescent peer victimization predicted acute inflammatory responses to stress, and whether both resting parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity and PNS stress reactivity moderated this association. 83 adolescents (Mage = 14.89, SDage = 0.52, 48% female) reported their history of peer victimization and were exposed to a standardized social stress task before and after which dried blood spot samples were collected to assay inflammatory markers. Inflammatory responses to the stress task were assessed with a latent inflammatory change factor using the cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). PNS functioning, indexed by high-frequency heart rate variability, was measured at rest and during the stressor. Contrary to hypotheses, analyses revealed no direct relation between peer victimization and acute inflammatory responses, and resting PNS activity did not moderate this association. However, peer victimization predicted stronger inflammatory responses among adolescents with weaker PNS reactivity to the stress task (b = 0.63, p = .02). This association was not observed among adolescents with stronger PNS reactivity, for whom a negative but non-significant trend was found. Weaker PNS reactivity may thus indicate victimized adolescents' vulnerability for acute inflammatory responses, whereas stronger PNS reactivity may indicate adolescents' resilience to a social stressor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamara I Lorenz
- Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
| | - Elisabeth Schreuders
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Ivo V Stuldreher
- The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, The Netherlands
| | - Nattapong Thammasan
- OnePlanet Research Center, Imec- The Netherlands, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie Brouwer
- The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, The Netherlands
- Department of Artificial Intelligence, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Matteo Giletta
- Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Heming M, Angerer P, Apolinário-Hagen J, Liszio S, Nater UM, Skoluda N, Weber J. Hair cortisol concentration and its association with acute stress responses and recovery in a sample of medical students in Germany. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 163:106986. [PMID: 38367529 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.106986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Experiencing acute and chronic stress can contribute to adverse health outcomes. Responses to acute stress differ between individuals (i.e., stress reactivity) and the experience of chronic stress has been discussed to be associated with acute stress responses and stress recovery. This study thus aims to investigate whether hair cortisol concentration (HCC), being an indicator for hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity over a prolonged period of time, is associated with acute stress responses and recovery in a sample of medical students. MATERIAL AND METHODS From July 2020 to July 2021, medical students (n = 54) underwent a virtual-reality Trier Social Stress Test in which their blood pressure and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured, and hair samples were taken to determine HCC. Piecewise linear growth analyses were used to investigate whether HCC (categorized into low, medium and high levels) is associated with acute stress responses and recovery regarding blood pressure and HRV. RESULTS Significant interaction effects in piecewise linear growth analyses showed that participants with higher levels of HCC had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure responses compared to participants with medium levels of HCC. No significant interaction effects were observed for HRV responses or for recovery measures. CONCLUSIONS The study suggests that higher levels of HCC are associated with a lower cardiovascular response in terms of blood pressure to an acute stressor in medical students. Therefore, long-term HPA-axis activity may contribute to different magnitudes of acute stress responses in the autonomic nervous system. As the shown lower blood pressure responses to acute stress in individuals with increased long-term HPA-axis activity may represent inadequate stress responses, these should be further studied in order to find out more about their interaction and potential subsequent disease risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meike Heming
- Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Peter Angerer
- Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jennifer Apolinário-Hagen
- Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefan Liszio
- Center for Virtual and Extended Reality in Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Germany
| | - Urs Markus Nater
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life (SOLE) - Processes and Mechanisms underlying Everyday Life Stress", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nadine Skoluda
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life (SOLE) - Processes and Mechanisms underlying Everyday Life Stress", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeannette Weber
- Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Eisen AM, Bratman GN, Olvera-Alvarez HA. Susceptibility to stress and nature exposure: Unveiling differential susceptibility to physical environments; a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301473. [PMID: 38630650 PMCID: PMC11023441 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging epidemiological evidence indicates nature exposure could be associated with greater health benefits among groups in lower versus higher socioeconomic positions. One possible mechanism underpinning this evidence is described by our framework: (susceptibility) adults in low socioeconomic positions face higher exposure to persistent psychosocial stressors in early life, inducing a pro-inflammatory phenotype as a lifelong susceptibility to stress; (differential susceptibility) susceptible adults are more sensitive to the health risks of adverse (stress-promoting) environments, but also to the health benefits of protective (stress-buffering) environments. OBJECTIVE Experimental investigation of a pro-inflammatory phenotype as a mechanism facilitating greater stress recovery from nature exposure. METHODS We determined differences in stress recovery (via heart rate variability) caused by exposure to a nature or office virtual reality environment (10 min) after an acute stressor among 64 healthy college-age males with varying levels of susceptibility (socioeconomic status, early life stress, and a pro-inflammatory state [inflammatory reactivity and glucocorticoid resistance to an in vitro bacterial challenge]). RESULTS Findings for inflammatory reactivity and glucocorticoid resistance were modest but consistently trended towards better recovery in the nature condition. Differences in recovery were not observed for socioeconomic status or early life stress. DISCUSSION Among healthy college-age males, we observed expected trends according to their differential susceptibility when assessed as inflammatory reactivity and glucocorticoid resistance, suggesting these biological correlates of susceptibility could be more proximal indicators than self-reported assessments of socioeconomic status and early life stress. If future research in more diverse populations aligns with these trends, this could support an alternative conceptualization of susceptibility as increased environmental sensitivity, reflecting heightened responses to adverse, but also protective environments. With this knowledge, future investigators could examine how individual differences in environmental sensitivity could provide an opportunity for those who are the most susceptible to experience the greatest health benefits from nature exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. Eisen
- School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Gregory N. Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Richer R, Koch V, Abel L, Hauck F, Kurz M, Ringgold V, Müller V, Küderle A, Schindler-Gmelch L, Eskofier BM, Rohleder N. Machine learning-based detection of acute psychosocial stress from body posture and movements. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8251. [PMID: 38589504 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59043-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Investigating acute stress responses is crucial to understanding the underlying mechanisms of stress. Current stress assessment methods include self-reports that can be biased and biomarkers that are often based on complex laboratory procedures. A promising additional modality for stress assessment might be the observation of body movements, which are affected by negative emotions and threatening situations. In this paper, we investigated the relationship between acute psychosocial stress induction and body posture and movements. We collected motion data from N = 59 individuals over two studies (Pilot Study: N = 20, Main Study: N = 39) using inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based motion capture suits. In both studies, individuals underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and a stress-free control condition (friendly-TSST; f-TSST) in randomized order. Our results show that acute stress induction leads to a reproducible freezing behavior, characterized by less overall motion as well as more and longer periods of no movement. Based on these data, we trained machine learning pipelines to detect acute stress solely from movement information, achieving an accuracy of75.0 ± 17.7 % (Pilot Study) and73.4 ± 7.7 % (Main Study). This, for the first time, suggests that body posture and movements can be used to detect whether individuals are exposed to acute psychosocial stress. While more studies are needed to further validate our approach, we are convinced that motion information can be a valuable extension to the existing biomarkers and can help to obtain a more holistic picture of the human stress response. Our work is the first to systematically explore the use of full-body body posture and movement to gain novel insights into the human stress response and its effects on the body and mind.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Richer
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab (MaD Lab), Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering (AIBE), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Veronika Koch
- Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Luca Abel
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab (MaD Lab), Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering (AIBE), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Felicitas Hauck
- Chair of Health Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Miriam Kurz
- Chair of Health Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Veronika Ringgold
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab (MaD Lab), Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering (AIBE), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany
- Chair of Health Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Victoria Müller
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab (MaD Lab), Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering (AIBE), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arne Küderle
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab (MaD Lab), Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering (AIBE), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lena Schindler-Gmelch
- Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bjoern M Eskofier
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab (MaD Lab), Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering (AIBE), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany
- Translational Digital Health Group, Institute of AI for Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Nicolas Rohleder
- Chair of Health Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Oppenheimer S, Bond L, Smith C. Social media does not elicit a physiological stress response as measured by heart rate and salivary cortisol over 20-minute sessions of cell phone use. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298553. [PMID: 38568926 PMCID: PMC10990243 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The pervasive use of social media has raised concerns about its potential detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Others have demonstrated a relationship between social media use and anxiety, depression, and psychosocial stress. In light of these studies, we examined physiological indicators of stress (heart rate to measure autonomic nervous system activation and cortisol to assess activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) associated with social media use and investigated possible moderating influences of sex, age, and psychological parameters. We collected physiological data from 59 subjects ranging in age from 13 to 55 across two cell phone treatments: social media use and a pre-selected YouTube playlist. Heart rate was measured using arm-band heart rate monitors before and during cell phone treatments, and saliva was collected for later cortisol analysis (by enzyme immunoassay) before and after each of the two cell phone treatments. To disentangle the effects of cell phone treatment from order of treatment, we used a crossover design in which participants were randomized to treatment order. Our study uncovered a significant period effect suggesting that both heart rate and cortisol decreased over the duration of our experiment, irrespective of the type of cell phone activity or the order of treatments. There was no indication that age, sex, habits of social media use, or psychometric parameters moderated the physiological response to cell phone activities. Our data suggest that 20-minute bouts of social media use or YouTube viewing do not elicit a physiological stress response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Oppenheimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Western Idaho, Boise, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Laura Bond
- Biomolecular Research Center, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Charity Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Western Idaho, Boise, Idaho, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Jirakittayakorn N, Tamboon E, Mitrirattanakul S. Effect of 1% H 2O 2 on Three Salivary Stress Biomarkers, Cortisol, Alpha-Amylase, and sIgA. Int Dent J 2024; 74:343-351. [PMID: 37985342 PMCID: PMC10988260 DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several associations worldwide have been recommending the use of 1% hydrogen peroxide solution as a preprocedural mouth rinse before dental treatments to reduce viral load in saliva. This protocol is also employed in stress studies, especially in the context of dental treatment that uses salivary biomarkers as an indicator. However, the effect of 1% hydrogen peroxide as mouth rinse on salivary biomarkers remains unclear. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the effects of 1% hydrogen peroxide solution as a preprocedural mouth rinse on 3 salivary stress biomarkers-salivary cortisol, salivary secretory IgA, and salivary α-amylase-both on chemical influence and mechanical irrigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety healthy participants with confirmed negative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction results for COVID-19 at most 2 days prior to the experiment were included in this study. All participants were randomly allocated into 3 groups: experimental (1% hydrogen peroxide solution), positive control (distilled water), and negative control (no mouth rinse). Saliva samples were collected before and after mouth rinsing with the respective solutions. Salivary biomarkers were analysed using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS Salivary cortisol and salivary α-amylase did not significantly differ before and after rinsing, whilst salivary sIgA levels decreased in all 3 groups. Nonetheless, there were no significant differences in the changes of these biomarkers across the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that using 1% hydrogen peroxide solution as a preprocedural mouth rinse for universal precaution does not alter the levels of these 3 salivary biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nantawachara Jirakittayakorn
- Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; School of Dentistry, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Eakapong Tamboon
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Somsak Mitrirattanakul
- Department of Masticatory Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok Thailand.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Meier JK, Schwabe L. Consistently increased dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity during the exposure to acute stressors. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae159. [PMID: 38642105 PMCID: PMC11031141 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress has a major impact on our mental health. Nonetheless, it is still not fully understood how the human brain responds to ongoing stressful events. Here, we aimed to determine the cortical dynamics during the exposure to ecologically valid, standardized stressors. To this end, we conducted 3 experiments in which healthy participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (experiments 1 and 2) and the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test (experiment 3) or a respective control manipulation, while we measured their cortical activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Increases in salivary cortisol and subjective stress levels confirmed the successful stress induction in all experiments. Results of experiment 1 showed significantly increased cortical activity, in particular in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, during the exposure to the Trier Social Stress Test. Experiment 2 replicated this finding and showed further that this stress-related increase in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity was transient and limited to the period of the Trier Social Stress Test. Experiment 3 demonstrated the increased dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity during the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test, suggesting that this increase is generalizable and not specific to the Trier Social Stress Test. Together, these data show consistently that dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity is not reduced, as commonly assumed, but increased under stress, which may promote coping with the ongoing stressor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lars Schwabe
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Bentele UU, Klink ESC, Benz ABE, Meier M, Gaertner RJ, Denk BF, Dimitroff SJ, Unternaehrer E, Pruessner JC. The effect of cognitive reappraisal and early-life maternal care on neuroendocrine stress responses. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6837. [PMID: 38514744 PMCID: PMC10957921 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57106-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Early-life adversity (ELA) is related to profound dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, reflected in both, blunted or exaggerated cortisol stress responses in adulthood. Emotion regulation strategies such as cognitive reappraisal might contribute to this inconsistent finding. Here, we investigate an interaction of early-life maternal care (MC), where low MC represents a form of ELA, and instructed emotion regulation on cortisol responses to acute stress. Ninety-three healthy young women were assigned to a low (n = 33) or high (n = 60) MC group, based on self-reported early-life MC. In the laboratory, participants received regulation instructions, asking to cognitively reappraise (reappraisal group, n = 45) or to focus on senses (control group, n = 48) during subsequent stress exposure, induced by the Trier Social Stress Test. Salivary cortisol and subjective stress levels were measured repeatedly throughout the experiment. Multilevel model analyses confirmed a MC by emotion regulation interaction effect on cortisol trajectories, while controlling for hormonal status. Individuals with low MC in the control compared with the reappraisal group showed increased cortisol responses; individuals with high MC did not differ. These results highlight the significance of emotion regulation for HPA axis stress regulation following ELA exposure. They provide methodological and health implications, indicating emotion regulation as a promising target of treatment interventions for individuals with a history of ELA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike U Bentele
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
| | - Elea S C Klink
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany
| | - Annika B E Benz
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany
| | - Maria Meier
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany
- Child- and Adolescent Research Department, University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Raphaela J Gaertner
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany
| | - Bernadette F Denk
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | | | - Eva Unternaehrer
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany
- Child- and Adolescent Research Department, University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jens C Pruessner
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Kappen M, Vanhollebeke G, Van Der Donckt J, Van Hoecke S, Vanderhasselt MA. Acoustic and prosodic speech features reflect physiological stress but not isolated negative affect: a multi-paradigm study on psychosocial stressors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5515. [PMID: 38448417 PMCID: PMC10918109 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55550-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity in speech under stress has been a recurring issue in stress research, potentially due to varied stress induction paradigms. This study investigated speech features in semi-guided speech following two distinct psychosocial stress paradigms (Cyberball and MIST) and their respective control conditions. Only negative affect increased during Cyberball, while self-reported stress, skin conductance response rate, and negative affect increased during MIST. Fundamental frequency (F0), speech rate, and jitter significantly changed during MIST, but not Cyberball; HNR and shimmer showed no expected changes. The results indicate that observed speech features are robust in semi-guided speech and sensitive to stressors eliciting additional physiological stress responses, not solely decreases in negative affect. These differences between stressors may explain literature heterogeneity. Our findings support the potential of speech as a stress level biomarker, especially when stress elicits physiological reactions, similar to other biomarkers. This highlights its promise as a tool for measuring stress in everyday settings, considering its affordability, non-intrusiveness, and ease of collection. Future research should test these results' robustness and specificity in naturalistic settings, such as freely spoken speech and noisy environments while exploring and validating a broader range of informative speech features in the context of stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitchel Kappen
- Department of Head and Skin, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium.
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Gert Vanhollebeke
- Department of Head and Skin, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jonas Van Der Donckt
- IDLab, Ghent University - Imec, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie Van Hoecke
- IDLab, Ghent University - Imec, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Head and Skin, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Hendry E, McCallister B, Elman DJ, Freeman R, Borsook D, Elman I. Validity of mental and physical stress models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 158:105566. [PMID: 38307304 PMCID: PMC11082879 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Different stress models are employed to enhance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and explore potential interventions. However, the utility of these models remains a critical concern, as their validities may be limited by the complexity of stress processes. Literature review revealed that both mental and physical stress models possess reasonable construct and criterion validities, respectively reflected in psychometrically assessed stress ratings and in activation of the sympathoadrenal system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The findings are less robust, though, in the pharmacological perturbations' domain, including such agents as adenosine or dobutamine. Likewise, stress models' convergent- and discriminant validity vary depending on the stressors' nature. Stress models share similarities, but also have important differences regarding their validities. Specific traits defined by the nature of the stressor stimulus should be taken into consideration when selecting stress models. Doing so can personalize prevention and treatment of stress-related antecedents, its acute processing, and chronic sequelae. Further work is warranted to refine stress models' validity and customize them so they commensurate diverse populations and circumstances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin Hendry
- Center for Autonomic and Peripheral Nerve Disorders, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brady McCallister
- Center for Autonomic and Peripheral Nerve Disorders, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dan J Elman
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roy Freeman
- Center for Autonomic and Peripheral Nerve Disorders, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Borsook
- Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Igor Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Guo X, Wang Y, Kan Y, Wu M, Ball LJ, Duan H. The HPA and SAM axis mediate the impairment of creativity under stress. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14472. [PMID: 37968552 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
With the ever-changing social environment, individual creativity is facing a severe challenge induced by stress. However, little is known regarding the underlying mechanisms by which acute stress affects creative cognitive processing. The current research explored the impacts of the neuroendocrine response on creativity under stress and its underlying cognitive flexibility mechanisms. The enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay was employed to assess salivary cortisol, which acted as a marker of stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Eye blink rate (EBR) and pupil diameter were measured as respective indicators of dopamine and noradrenaline released by the activation of the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) axis. The Wisconsin card task (WCST) measured cognitive flexibility, while the alternative uses task (AUT) and the remote association task (RAT) measured separately divergent and convergent thinking in creativity. Results showed higher cortisol increments following acute stress induction in the stress group than control group. Ocular results showed that the stress manipulation significantly increased EBR and pupil diameter compared to controls, reflecting increased SAM activity. Further analysis revealed that stress-released cortisol impaired the originality component of the AUT, reducing cognitive flexibility as measured by perseverative errors on the WCST task. Serial mediation analyses showed that both EBR and pupil diameter were also associated with increased perseverative errors leading to poor originality on the AUT. These findings confirm that physiological arousal under stress can impair divergent thinking through the regulation of different neuroendocrine pathways, in which the deterioration of flexible switching plays an important mediating role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Guo
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yifan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuecui Kan
- Department of Medical Psychology, Psychological Science and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Meilin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Linden J Ball
- School of Psychology & Computer Science, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
| | - Haijun Duan
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Boyanov N, Andonov V. Non-invasive stress estimation in simulative endoscopy setting: literature review. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2024; 66:7-11. [PMID: 38426459 DOI: 10.3897/folmed.66.e115645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the most common stressors is so-called "occupational stress." It is defined as the sum of physical, mental and physiological responses to work in situations where the workload or stress associated with it intensifies for an extended period of time. It is a gradual process in which individual cognitive assessments of occupational stressors generate adverse health events and may lead to burnout. Since it has become a major problem in the medical field, studying, measuring and limiting it have been set as goals for the future.
Collapse
|
23
|
Schmidt B, Rohleder N, Engert V. Post-hypnotic safety suggestion improves stress coping with long-lasting effects. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3548. [PMID: 38347065 PMCID: PMC10861489 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54071-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Effective coping with acute stress is important to promote mental health and to build stress resilience. Interventions improving stress coping usually require long training periods. In this study, we present a hypnosis-based intervention that produces long-term effects after a single hypnosis session. In that session, we established a post-hypnotic safety suggestion that participants can activate afterwards with a cue, the Jena Safety Anchor. We tested 60 participants in our study who all received the hypnosis session and a stress task. The safety group used the Jena Safety Anchor during acute stress (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST). The control group used a neutral anchor. We measured subjective stress responses via self-reports and physiological stress responses via saliva and blood samples as well as heart rate. One week later, all participants filled in an online survey to measure long-term effects of the post-hypnotic safety suggestion. We found that participants using the Jena Safety Anchor during the TSST reported significantly lower stress compared to the control group. The safety group also reported significantly fewer negative thoughts concerning their TSST performance than the control group during the stress recovery phase and 1 week later. All participants indicated that the Jena Safety Anchor still worked 1 week after its establishment. Suggestibility did not affect the efficacy of the Jena Safety Anchor. Our findings demonstrate that post-hypnotic safety suggestions improve stress coping with long-lasting effects, which makes it a promising intervention to promote mental health and establish stress resilience in just one hypnosis session.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Schmidt
- Institute of Psychosocial Medicine, Psychotherapy and Psychooncology, Jena University Hospital, Stoystraße 3, 07743, Jena, Germany.
| | - Nicolas Rohleder
- Chair of Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Veronika Engert
- Institute of Psychosocial Medicine, Psychotherapy and Psychooncology, Jena University Hospital, Stoystraße 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Deuter CE, Kaczmarczyk M, Hellmann-Regen J, Kuehl LK, Wingenfeld K, Otte C. The influence of pharmacological mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptor blockade on the cortisol response to psychological stress. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 129:110905. [PMID: 38043634 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The glucocorticoid cortisol is the end product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and crucial for the stress response in humans. Cortisol regulates numerous biological functions by binding to two different types of receptors: the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Both receptors are found in the brain where they are crucially involved in various mental functions and in feedback inhibition of cortisol release. The precise role of both receptors in the human stress response is not completely understood. In this study, we examined the effects of pharmacological blockade of the MR or the GR on stress-induced cortisol release in a sample of 318 healthy young men (M = 25.42, SD = 5.01). Participants received the MR antagonist spironolactone (300 mg), the GR antagonist mifepristone (600 mg), or a placebo and were subjected 90 min later to a social-evaluative stressor (Trier Social Stress Test) or a non-stressful control condition. We found significantly higher stress-induced cortisol release in the spironolactone group, whereas participants after mifepristone administration did not differ from the control groups. These results suggest that MR blockade results in attenuated fast negative feedback processes and emphasize the important role of the MR during the early phase of the stress response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian E Deuter
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Michael Kaczmarczyk
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian Hellmann-Regen
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany; DZPG (German Center for Mental Health), Germany
| | | | - Katja Wingenfeld
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany; DZPG (German Center for Mental Health), Germany
| | - Christian Otte
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany; DZPG (German Center for Mental Health), Germany
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Gabbay V, Ely B, Vileisis J, Petrovic Z, Cicvaric A, Asnis G, Kim-Schulze S, Radulovic J. Immune and Neural Response to Acute Social Stress in Adolescent Humans and Rodents. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3845793. [PMID: 38405791 PMCID: PMC10889054 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3845793/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Studies in adults have linked stress-related activation of the immune system to the manifestation of psychiatric conditions. Using a translational design, this study aimed to examine the impact of social stress on immune activity in adolescents and on neuronal activity in a preclinical mouse model. Participants were 31 adolescents (ages 12-19), including 25 with mood and anxiety symptoms. Whole-blood samples were collected before and after the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a stress-inducing public speaking task, then cultured for 6 hours in the presence and absence of the inflammatory endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Effects of TSST and LPS on 41 immune biomarkers were examined using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Separately, juvenile (8-week-old) male mice were non-stressed or exposed to reminder social defeat then intraperitoneally injected with saline or LPS (n = 6/group). Brains were perfused and collected for immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy at 0, 1, 6, and 24 hours post-injection. Activity was determined by the density of cFos-positive neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus, paraventricular thalamus, and basolateral amygdala, regions known to show sustained activation to immunological challenge. Analyses in the adolescent study indicated a strong effect of LPS but no effects of TSST or TSST×LPS interaction on immune biomarkers. Similarly, reminder social defeat did not induce sustained neuronal activity changes comparable to LPS immunological challenge in juvenile mice. Our convergent findings across species suggest that the acute immune response to stress documented in adults is not present in youth. Thus, aging and chronicity effects may play an important role in the inflammatory response to acute psychosocial stress.
Collapse
|
26
|
Weber J, Heming M, Apolinário-Hagen J, Liszio S, Angerer P. Comparison of the Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale with physiological and self-reported stress responses during ecological momentary assessment and during participation in a virtual reality version of the Trier Social Stress Test. Biol Psychol 2024; 186:108762. [PMID: 38311307 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Valid approaches to conveniently measure stress reactivity are needed due to the growing evidence of its health-impairing effects. This study examined whether the Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale (PSRS) predicts cardiovascular and psychological responses to psychosocial stressors during daily life and during a virtual reality (VR) Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Medical students answered a standardized baseline questionnaire to assess perceived stress reactivity by the PSRS. The PSRS asks participants to rate the intensity of their typical affective responses to common stressors during daily life. They were further asked to participate in a VR-TSST and in an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) over a period of three consecutive workdays during daily life. Blood pressure and self-reported stress were repeatedly, heart rate variability (HRV) continuously measured during the VR-TSST and EMA. Furthermore, participants repeatedly assessed task demands, task control and social conflict during the EMA. Data was analysed using multilevel analysis and multiple linear regression. Results indicate that the PSRS moderates associations between blood pressure (but not HRV) and demands and control during daily life. Furthermore, the PSRS directly predicted self-reported stress, but did not moderate associations between self-reported stress and demands, control and social conflict. The PSRS did not predict physiological and self-reported stress responses to the VR-TSST. This study partly confirmed convergent validity of the PSRS to stress reactivity in daily life. Furthermore, the lack of association between the PSRS and stress responses to the VR-TSST calls for future studies to search for reliable and valid ways to assess stress reactivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Weber
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Meike Heming
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jennifer Apolinário-Hagen
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefan Liszio
- Center for Children and Youth Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Germany
| | - Peter Angerer
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
González AP, Loredo Aguayo CH, Barbosa Sabanero G, Vasquez Mendoza MG, Aguiñaga Zamarripa MDLL, Linares Salas VH, Sosa Bustamante GP. Salivary Cortisol Levels and Clinical Signs of Stress in Premature Neonates Treated with Vimala Massage: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE 2024; 30:165-172. [PMID: 37585626 DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2022.0756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Background: In neonatal intensive care units across the world, premature neonates are exposed to a very stressful environment with high levels of noise, bright lights, pain, infections, invasive procedures, and a lack of maternal contact. Stress is manifested by increased cortisol levels and clinical signs of stress. Objective: To assess the impact of Vimala massage on (1) salivary cortisol levels (primary outcome) and (2) clinical signs of stress (secondary outcomes) in premature neonates. Methods: Neonates (28-36 weeks gestational age) admitted to a nursery unit were randomized one-to-one to receive 15-20 min of Vimala massage administered by their parents twice daily and usual care, or to usual care alone. Salivary cortisol levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on days 1 and 5. Heart rate, respiratory rate, caloric intake, weight gain, and growth were recorded daily. Groups were compared with t tests, U-tests, and repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Seventy neonates, 35 in each group, were included. Groups were comparable at baseline. The median decrease in salivary cortisol levels was 0.12 μg/dL in the massage group and 0.07 μg/dL in the control group (p = 0.22). Over 5 days, the massage group had significant decreases in resting heart rate (p = 0.003) and respiratory rate (p = 0.028), and greater weight gains (p = 0.0002), relative to controls. Conclusions: In this randomized trial, adding Vimala massage to usual nursery care was not associated with a significant decrease in salivary cortisol levels in premature neonates, when compared with usual nursery care alone. There were improvements in clinical signs of stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alma Patricia González
- High Specialty Medical Unit, Hospital of Gynecology and Pediatrics # 48, Mexican Institute of Social Security, León, Mexico
| | - Claudia Helena Loredo Aguayo
- High Specialty Medical Unit, Hospital of Gynecology and Pediatrics # 48, Mexican Institute of Social Security, León, Mexico
| | - Gloria Barbosa Sabanero
- Department of Medical Science, Division of Health Science, University of Guanajuato, Campus León, León Gto, México
| | - Ma Guadalupe Vasquez Mendoza
- High Specialty Medical Unit, Hospital of Gynecology and Pediatrics # 48, Mexican Institute of Social Security, León, Mexico
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Frank N, Herrmann MJ, Lauer M, Förster CY. Exploratory Review of the Takotsubo Syndrome and the Possible Role of the Psychosocial Stress Response and Inflammaging. Biomolecules 2024; 14:167. [PMID: 38397404 PMCID: PMC10886847 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a cardiomyopathy that clinically presents as a transient and reversible left ventricular wall motion abnormality (LVWMA). Recovery can occur spontaneously within hours or weeks. Studies have shown that it mainly affects older people. In particular, there is a higher prevalence in postmenopausal women. Physical and emotional stress factors are widely discussed and generally recognized triggers. In addition, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the associated glucocorticoid-dependent negative feedback play an important role in the resulting immune response. This review aims to highlight the unstudied aspects of the trigger factors of TTS. The focus is on emotional stress/chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), which is influenced by estrogen concentration and noradrenaline, for example, and can lead to changes in the behavioral, hormonal, and autonomic systems. Age- and gender-specific aspects, as well as psychological effects, must also be considered. We hypothesize that this leads to a stronger corticosteroid response and altered feedback of the HPA axis. This may trigger proinflammatory markers and thus immunosuppression, inflammaging, and sympathetic overactivation, which contributes significantly to the development of TTS. The aim is to highlight the importance of CUMS and psychological triggers as risk factors and to make an exploratory proposal based on the new knowledge. Based on the imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is presented as a possible new therapeutic approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Frank
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, Würzburg University, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin J. Herrmann
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (M.J.H.); (M.L.)
| | - Martin Lauer
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (M.J.H.); (M.L.)
| | - Carola Y. Förster
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, Würzburg University, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Susman ES, Weisz JR, McLaughlin KA, Coulombe P, Evans SC, Thomassin K. Is respiratory sinus arrhythmia a modifiable index of symptom change in cognitive behavioral therapy for youth? A pooled-data analysis of a randomized trial. Psychother Res 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38285175 DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2024.2308149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We evaluated whether respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) reactivity and resting RSA-physiological markers reflecting the increase in heart rate with inspiration and decrease during expiration related to parasympathetic influence on the heart-are modifiable and predict symptom change during youth psychotherapy. Methods: Diverse youth (N = 158; ages 7-15; 48.1% female) received the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children and completed pre-treatment (pre), post-treatment (post), and 18-months postbaseline (18Mo) assessments. We measured resting RSA, RSA reactivity during stress induction, and psychopathology symptoms. Results: Pre-to-post and pre-to-18Mo, reactivity decreased, and resting RSA increased. Changes in reactivity and resting RSA, separately, did not predict reduced psychopathology. Yet, decreased reactivity combined with increased resting RSA predicted reduced psychopathology over time, suggesting that observed RSA changes were beneficial for some. Higher dosage of a module utilizing slow-breathing, muscle-relaxation, and imagery predicted greater pre-to-18Mo changes in reactivity and resting RSA, whereas a similar module with less emphasis on slow-breathing did not. Conclusions: Findings raise the possibility that youth reactivity and resting RSA could be modifiable during cognitive behavioral therapy and contribute to the amelioration of psychopathology. More studies are needed to determine whether resting RSA and RSA reactivity are modifiable indices of symptom change in slow-breathing practices and psychotherapy. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER NCT03153904, registered May 15, 2017.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eli S Susman
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - John R Weisz
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Spencer C Evans
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Rüttgens T, Suchan B, Wolf OT, Merz CJ. Acute stress does not modulate selective attention in a composite letter task. Stress 2024; 27:2330704. [PMID: 38528793 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2024.2330704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute stress has been demonstrated to affect a diverse array of attentional processes, one of which is selective attention. Selective attention refers to the cognitive process of deliberately allocating attentional resources to a specific stimulus, while ignoring other, distracting stimuli. While catecholamines have been shown to narrow attention, investigations on the influence of the stress hormone cortisol have yielded ambiguous results. We conducted two separate studies utilizing different laboratory stress induction paradigms to examine if cortisol influences the ability to selectively attend to local or global elements of a visual stimulus. In Study 1, 72 healthy young men took part either in the stressful Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test (SECPT) or a non-stressful (warm water) control, before being exposed to a composite letter task (CLT). Study 2 comprised a sample of 72 healthy young men and women and made use of a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) as well as a non-stressful control version, the friendly-TSST (f-TSST). Via endocrine, physiological, and subjective markers, we confirmed a successful stress induction. As verified with Bayesian statistics, stress did not affect selective attention in neither of the two studies. Furthermore, we were able to replicate the previously demonstrated absence of global precedence for composite figures composed of letters. Our results offer novel insights into the temporal dynamics of the effects of acute stress on attentional processes. Future studies should manipulate the timing of stress induction and investigate the effects of stress on letter vs. non-letter composite figures to shed further light on the underlying mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Rüttgens
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Boris Suchan
- Department of Neuropsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Oliver T Wolf
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christian J Merz
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Drost L, Finke JB, Bachmann P, Schächinger H. Cold pressor stress effects on cardiac repolarization. Stress 2024; 27:2352626. [PMID: 38766757 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2024.2352626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The cold pressor test (CPT) elicits strong cardiovascular reactions via activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), yielding subsequent increases in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP). However, little is known on how exposure to the CPT affects cardiac ventricular repolarization. Twenty-eight healthy males underwent both a bilateral feet CPT and a warm water (WW) control condition on two separate days, one week apart. During pre-stress baseline and stress induction cardiovascular signals (ECG lead II, Finometer BP) were monitored continuously. Salivary cortisol and subjective stress ratings were assessed intermittently. Corrected QT (QTc) interval length and T-wave amplitude (TWA) were assessed for each heartbeat and subsequently aggregated individually over baseline and stress phases, respectively. CPT increases QTc interval length and elevates the TWA. Stress-induced changes in cardiac repolarization are only in part and weakly correlated with cardiovascular and cortisol stress-reactivity. Besides its already well-established effects on cardiovascular, endocrine, and subjective responses, CPT also impacts on cardiac repolarization by elongation of QTc interval length and elevation of TWA. CPT effects on cardiac repolarization share little variance with the other indices of stress reactivity, suggesting a potentially incremental value of this parameter for understanding psychobiological adaptation to acute CPT stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Drost
- Department of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
| | - Johannes B Finke
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Petra Bachmann
- Department of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
| | - Hartmut Schächinger
- Department of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Kan Y, Duan H, Wang Z, Wang Y, Liu S, Lan J. Acute stress reduces attentional blindness: Relations with resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia and cortisol. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2024; 77:144-159. [PMID: 36803305 DOI: 10.1177/17470218231159654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
This study made the first attempt to combine resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and cortisol to provide an explanatory mechanism for the effect of acute stress on emotion-induced blindness (EIB) from the perspective of vagus nerve activity and stress hormone responses. For this purpose, resting electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were recorded first. Participants underwent both the socially evaluated cold-pressor test and control treatments 7 days apart and then completed the EIB task. Heart rate and saliva samples were collected over time. The results demonstrated that acute stress promoted the overall detection of targets. Resting RSA and cortisol levels predicted the stress-induced changes in EIB performance under the negative distractor condition at lag2 negatively and positively, respectively. These findings indicate that the effect of stress on EIB was partially contributed by cortisol, which is more relevant to negative distractor conditions. Resting RSA, as an indicator of inter-individual differences, further provided evidence from the perspective of the trait emotional regulation ability based on the vagus nerve control. In general, resting RSA and cortisol changes over time exhibit different patterns of influence on stress-induced changes in EIB performance. Thus, this study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the effect of acute stress on attentional blindness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zhuo Wang
- Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | | | | | - Jijun Lan
- Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Plain B, Pielage H, Kramer SE, Richter M, Saunders GH, Versfeld NJ, Zekveld AA, Bhuiyan TA. Combining Cardiovascular and Pupil Features Using k-Nearest Neighbor Classifiers to Assess Task Demand, Social Context, and Sentence Accuracy During Listening. Trends Hear 2024; 28:23312165241232551. [PMID: 38549351 PMCID: PMC10981225 DOI: 10.1177/23312165241232551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
In daily life, both acoustic factors and social context can affect listening effort investment. In laboratory settings, information about listening effort has been deduced from pupil and cardiovascular responses independently. The extent to which these measures can jointly predict listening-related factors is unknown. Here we combined pupil and cardiovascular features to predict acoustic and contextual aspects of speech perception. Data were collected from 29 adults (mean = 64.6 years, SD = 9.2) with hearing loss. Participants performed a speech perception task at two individualized signal-to-noise ratios (corresponding to 50% and 80% of sentences correct) and in two social contexts (the presence and absence of two observers). Seven features were extracted per trial: baseline pupil size, peak pupil dilation, mean pupil dilation, interbeat interval, blood volume pulse amplitude, pre-ejection period and pulse arrival time. These features were used to train k-nearest neighbor classifiers to predict task demand, social context and sentence accuracy. The k-fold cross validation on the group-level data revealed above-chance classification accuracies: task demand, 64.4%; social context, 78.3%; and sentence accuracy, 55.1%. However, classification accuracies diminished when the classifiers were trained and tested on data from different participants. Individually trained classifiers (one per participant) performed better than group-level classifiers: 71.7% (SD = 10.2) for task demand, 88.0% (SD = 7.5) for social context, and 60.0% (SD = 13.1) for sentence accuracy. We demonstrated that classifiers trained on group-level physiological data to predict aspects of speech perception generalized poorly to novel participants. Individually calibrated classifiers hold more promise for future applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Plain
- Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ear & Hearing, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Eriksholm Research Centre, Snekkersten, Denmark
| | - Hidde Pielage
- Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ear & Hearing, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Eriksholm Research Centre, Snekkersten, Denmark
| | - Sophia E. Kramer
- Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ear & Hearing, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michael Richter
- School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Gabrielle H. Saunders
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Niek J. Versfeld
- Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ear & Hearing, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Adriana A. Zekveld
- Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ear & Hearing, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Richner J, Zagorac-Uremović Z, Laureiro-Martínez D. Individual and context-evoked antecedents of exploration-exploitation performance. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1167135. [PMID: 38187439 PMCID: PMC10766755 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1167135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
A central issue within the Carnegie approach is the exploration-exploitation tension that lies behind organizational adaptation. After decades of research, there is still little understanding of how the combination of individual and context-evoked differences affects exploration-exploitation performance. To address that issue, we build on recent psychological and neuroscientific studies to develop and test an integrative model. The model considers two individual antecedents (personality and cognitive flexibility) and three context-evoked antecedents that take place along different time horizons (recent stress, present emotional states, and present task motivation). We rely on a lab-in-the-field study of 282 leaders within the Swiss Armed Forces-an organization that exhibits the exploration-exploitation tension in an accentuated form. Using structural equation modeling, we conduct a multiple-mediation path analysis aimed at testing complex interactions between multiple variables. Our findings highlight the need to take an integrative approach; cognitive flexibility mediates the positive effect of the personality trait of emotional stability on exploration-exploitation performance, however, both cognitive flexibility and emotional stability play unique, underlying roles in explaining how organizational leaders interpret the context. Emotional stability decreases the negative effect of recent stress on a leader's cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility, in turn, mediates the effect of the present positive affective signals of task motivation on exploration-exploitation performance. These findings shed new light on our understanding of how adaptive leaders leverage positive and negative context-evoked antecedents that, in turn, affect cognitive flexibility and exploration-exploitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniella Laureiro-Martínez
- Chair of Technology and Innovation Management, Department of Management, Technology and Economics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Sözer ÖT, Dereboy Ç, İzgialp İ. How is variability in physiological responses to social stress related to punishment and reward sensitivities? Preliminary findings from the revised reinforcement sensitivity theory of personality perspective. ANXIETY, STRESS, AND COPING 2023:1-18. [PMID: 38053395 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2023.2290667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although personality traits are assumed to have biological/physiological foundations, research has yielded mixed evidence regarding the relationship between personality and physiological stress responses. Moreover, the field has often overlooked the contemporary neuroscience-based personality approach, known as the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) of Personality, in stress research. METHOD The present study examined the relationship between the revised RST's personality dimensions and heart rate and skin conductance level (SCL) in response to the Trier Social Stress Test in a sample of 61 healthy university students. RESULTS Piecewise latent growth curve analysis controlling for the participants' current life stress, smoking use, and caffeine intake revealed that individuals with higher behavioral inhibition exhibited higher physiological reactivity, whereas those with high reward sensitivity showed smaller heart rate reactivity. The behavioral disengagement facet of the behavioral inhibition scale was associated with reduced sympathetic arousal during the stress task. Additionally, reward interest was associated with a larger recovery of SCL. CONCLUSION Results were generally in line with the revised theory. The study findings were discussed within the paradigm of the approach-avoidance conflict and highlighted the importance of reward sensitivity in stress resilience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ömer Taha Sözer
- Department of Psychology, Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Türkiye
| | - Çiğdem Dereboy
- Department of Mental Health and Diseases, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Türkiye
| | - İpek İzgialp
- Doctoral Candidate, Department of Psychology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Türkiye
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Xia L, Feng Y, Guo Z, Ding J, Li Y, Li Y, Ma M, Gan G, Xu Y, Luo J, Shi Z, Guan Y. MuLHiTA: A Novel Multiclass Classification Framework With Multibranch LSTM and Hierarchical Temporal Attention for Early Detection of Mental Stress. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NEURAL NETWORKS AND LEARNING SYSTEMS 2023; 34:9657-9670. [PMID: 35385389 DOI: 10.1109/tnnls.2022.3159573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mental stress is an increasingly common psychological issue leading to diseases such as depression, addiction, and heart attack. In this study, an early detection framework based on electroencephalogram (EEG) data is developed for reducing the risk of these diseases. In existing frameworks, signals are often segmented into smaller sections prior to being input to a deep neural network. However, this approach ignores the fundamental nature of EEG signals as a carrier of valuable information (e.g., the integrity of frequency and phase, and temporal fluctuations of EEG components). As such, this type of segmenting may lead to information loss and a failure to effectively identify mental stress levels. Thus, we propose a novel multiclass classification framework termed multibranch LSTM and hierarchical temporal attention (MuLHiTA) for the early identification of mental stress levels. It specifically focuses on not only intraslice (within each slice) but also interslice (between different slices) samples in parallel. This was achieved by including two complementary branches, each of which integrated a specifically designed attention module into a bidirectional long short-term memory (BLSTM) network, enabling extraction of the most discriminative features from interslice and intraslice EEG signals simultaneously. The outputs of attention modules were then summed to obtain a feature representation that contributes to reduce overfitting and more effective multiclass classification. In addition, electrode positions were optimized using neural activity areas under high-stress conditions, thereby reducing computational costs by minimizing the number of critical electrodes. MuLHiTA was evaluated across one private [Montreal imaging stress task (MIST)] and two publicly available EEG datasets [EEG during mental arithmetic tasks (DMAT) and Simultaneous task EEG workload (STEW)]. These were divided into training and test sets using an 8:2 ratio, and the training data were further divided into training and validation sets using a fivefold cross-validation (CV) method, in which the model with the highest accuracy among the five was selected. The model was trained once more with the full training set, and the test data were then used to evaluate its performance. This approach achieved average classification accuracies of 93.58%, 91.80%, and 99.71% for the MIST, STEW, and DMAT datasets, respectively. Experimental results showed MuLHiTA was superior to state-of-the-art algorithms, including EEGNet, BLSTM, EEGLearn, convolutional neural network (CNN)-long short-term memory (LSTM), and convolutional recurrent attention model (CRAM), for multiclass classification. This demonstrates the viability of MuLHiTA for the early detection of mental stress.
Collapse
|
37
|
Bottenheft C, Hogenelst K, Stuldreher I, Kleemann R, Groen E, van Erp J, Brouwer AM. Understanding the combined effects of sleep deprivation and acute social stress on cognitive performance using a comprehensive approach. Brain Behav Immun Health 2023; 34:100706. [PMID: 38033613 PMCID: PMC10685043 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sleep deprivation (SD) and acute social stress are common, often unavoidable, and frequently co-occurring stressors in high-risk professions. Both stressors are known to acutely induce inflammatory responses and an increasing body of literature suggests this may lead to cognitive impairment. This study examined the combined effects of total SD and acute social stress on cognitive performance and took a comprehensive approach to explore their (shared) underlying mechanism leading to cognitive decline. Method We recorded cognitive performance on a response inhibition task and a multitask and monitored a range of inflammatory, psychophysiological and self-reported markers in 101 participants, both before and after one night of either sleep (control group: N = 48) or SD (N = 53), and both before and after a social stressor (Trier Social Stress Test). Results SD decreased cognitive performance. The social stress test also results in cognitive performance decline in the control group on the response inhibition task, but improved rather than decreased performance of sleep deprived participants on both tasks. The subjective ratings of mental effort also reflect this antagonistic interaction, indicating that the social stressor when sleep-deprived also reduced mental effort. In the inflammatory and physiological measures, this pattern was only reflected by IL-22 in blood. SD reduced blood IL-22 concentrations, and the social stress reduced IL-22 in the control group as well, but not in sleep-deprived participants. There were no interactive effects of SD and social stress on any other inflammatory or psychophysiological measures. The effects of the social stress test on autonomic measures and subjective results suggest that increased arousal may have benefited sleep-deprived participants' cognitive performance. Discussion SD generally decreased cognitive performance and increased required mental effort. By contrast, the isolated effects of a social stressor were not generic, showing a positive effect on cognitive performance when sleep deprived. Our study is the first that studied combined effects of sleep deprivation and acute social stress on cognitive performance and inflammatory markers. It provides a comprehensive overview of effects of these stressors on a range of variables. We did not show unequivocal evidence of an underlying physiological mechanism explaining changes in performance due to (the combination of) sleep deprivation and social stress, but consider IL-22 as a possible cytokine involved in this mechanism and certainly worth following up on in future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charelle Bottenheft
- TNO, Human Performance, Kampweg 55, 3679DE, Soesterberg, the Netherlands
- Human Media Interaction, Computer Science, University of Twente, the Netherlands
| | - Koen Hogenelst
- TNO, Human Performance, Kampweg 55, 3679DE, Soesterberg, the Netherlands
| | - Ivo Stuldreher
- TNO, Human Performance, Kampweg 55, 3679DE, Soesterberg, the Netherlands
- Human Media Interaction, Computer Science, University of Twente, the Netherlands
| | - Robert Kleemann
- TNO, Metabolic Health Research, Zernikedreef 9, 2333CK, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Eric Groen
- TNO, Human Performance, Kampweg 55, 3679DE, Soesterberg, the Netherlands
| | - Jan van Erp
- TNO, Human Machine Teaming, Kampweg 55, 3679DE, Soesterberg, the Netherlands
- Human Media Interaction, Computer Science, University of Twente, the Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie Brouwer
- TNO, Human Performance, Kampweg 55, 3679DE, Soesterberg, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Jentsch VL, Wolf OT, Otto T, Merz CJ. The impact of physical exercise on the consolidation of fear extinction memories. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14373. [PMID: 37350416 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Based on the mechanisms of fear extinction, exposure therapy is the most common treatment for anxiety disorders. However, extinguished fear responses can reemerge even after successful treatment. Novel interventions enhancing exposure therapy efficacy are therefore critically needed. Physical exercise improves learning and memory and was also shown to enhance extinction processes. This study tested whether physical exercise following fear extinction training improves the consolidation of extinction memories. Sixty healthy men underwent a differential fearconditioning paradigm with fear acquisition training on day 1 and fear extinction training followed by an exercise or resting control intervention on day 2. On day 3, retrieval and reinstatement were tested including two additional but perceptually similar stimuli to explore the generalization of exercise effects. Exercise significantly increased heart rate, salivary alpha amylase, and cortisol, indicating successful exercise manipulation. Contrary to our expectations, exercise did not enhance but rather impaired extinction memory retrieval on the next day, evidenced by significantly stronger differential skin conductance responses (SCRs) and pupil dilation (PD). Importantly, although conditioned fear responses were successfully acquired, they did not fully extinguish, explaining why exercise might have boosted the consolidation of the original fear memory trace instead. Additionally, stronger differential SCRs and PD toward the novel stimuli suggest that the memory enhancing effects of exercise also generalized to perceptually similar stimuli. Together, these findings indicate that physical exercise can facilitate both the long-term retrievability and generalization of extinction memories, but presumably only when extinction was successful in the first place.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valerie L Jentsch
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Oliver T Wolf
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Tobias Otto
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christian J Merz
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Beech A, Edelman A, Yatziv T, Rutherford HJV, Joormann J, Gadassi-Polack R. Cortisol reactivity to a laboratory stressor predicts increases in depressive symptoms in perinatal and nulliparous women during population-level stress. J Affect Disord 2023; 340:33-41. [PMID: 37499916 PMCID: PMC10529046 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research suggests a link between stress and depression, especially in high-risk groups. The perinatal period is known as a time of increased risk for depression and pregnancy has been associated with alterations in cortisol levels; however, limited research has assessed cortisol reactivity during pregnancy. Finally, no studies have yet examined whether cortisol reactivity predicts later depressive symptoms during a population-level stressor, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS The current study examined whether cortisol reactivity in perinatal and nulliparous women a year before the onset of COVID-19 predicted increases in depressive symptoms during the initial stage of the pandemic. Participants were 68 women (33 pregnant, Mage = 30.6; 35 nulliparous, Mage = 28.4) who, approximately a year before COVID-19, responded to a depressive symptoms questionnaire and completed a psychosocial stress test, during which they provided salivary cortisol samples. Shortly after the onset of pandemic-related closures (April 2020; postpartum for previously pregnant participants), participants completed follow-up questionnaires assessing current depressive symptoms. RESULTS Analyses showed that cortisol reactivity at baseline predicted increases in depressive symptoms at follow-up. Perinatal and nulliparous women did not differ in this association. LIMITATIONS The present study was limited by a moderate sample size and heterogeneity in terms of gestational week, restricting inferences about specific stages of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that cortisol reactivity to a laboratory stressor is a biomarker of risk for increased depressive symptoms during ecological stress in women. Biomarkers like these increase our understanding of depression risk and may help to identify individuals in need of interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Beech
- Tufts University, United States of America; Harvard University, United States of America.
| | | | - Tal Yatziv
- Yale Child Study Center at Yale University, United States of America
| | | | | | - Reuma Gadassi-Polack
- Yale University, United States of America; Tel Aviv-Yaffo Academic College, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Riddell C, Yonelinas AP, Shields GS. When stress enhances memory encoding: The beneficial effects of changing context. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 205:107836. [PMID: 37820758 PMCID: PMC10909400 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The effects of acute stress on memory encoding are complex, and we do not yet know all of the conditions that can determine whether stress at encoding improves or impairs memory. Recent work has found that changing contexts between encoding and stress can abolish the effects of post-encoding stress on memory, suggesting that context may play an important role in the effects of stress on memory. However, the role of context in the effects of stress on memory encoding is not yet known. We addressed this gap by examining the effects of context on the influence of acute stress on memory encoding. In a 2 × 2 experimental design, participants (N = 103) completed either a stressor (i.e., Socially Evaluated Cold Presser Test) or control task (i.e., warm water control) before completing a memory encoding task, which occurred in either in the same room as or a different room from the stressor or control task. Memory retrieval was tested for each participant within the context that they completed the encoding task. We found that, relative to nonstressed (i.e., control) participants, stressed participants who switched contexts prior to encoding showed better memory for both negative and neutral images. In contrast, when the stressor or control task occurred in the same room as memory encoding, stress had no beneficial effect on memory. These results highlight the importance of the ongoing context as a determinant of the effects of stress on memory encoding and present a challenge to current theoretical accounts of stress and memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Riddell
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Andrew P Yonelinas
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Grant S Shields
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Yi W, Chen Y, Yan L, Kohn N, Wu J. Acute stress selectively blunts reward anticipation but not consumption: An ERP study. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 27:100583. [PMID: 38025282 PMCID: PMC10660484 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress-induced dysfunction of reward processing is documented to be a critical factor associated with mental illness. Although many studies have attempted to clarify the relationship between stress and reward, few studies have investigated the effect of acute stress on the temporal dynamics of reward processing. The present study applied event-related potentials (ERP) to examine how acute stress differently influences reward anticipation and consumption. In this study, seventy-eight undergraduates completed a two-door reward task following a Trier Social Stress Task (TSST) or a placebo task. The TSST group showed higher cortisol levels, perceived stress, anxiety, and negative affect than the control group. For the control group, a higher magnitude of reward elicited a reduced cue-N2 but increased stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN), suggesting that controls were sensitive to reward magnitude. In contrast, these effects were absent in the stress group, suggesting that acute stress reduces sensitivity to reward magnitude during the anticipatory phase. However, the reward positivity (RewP) and P3 of both groups showed similar patterns, which suggests that acute stress has no impact on reward responsiveness during the consummatory phase. These findings suggest that acute stress selectively blunts sensitivity to reward magnitude during the anticipatory rather than the consummatory phase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yi
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yantao Chen
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Linlin Yan
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Nils Kohn
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jianhui Wu
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Schiller B, Brustkern J, von Dawans B, Habermann M, Pacurar M, Heinrichs M. Social high performers under stress behave more prosocially and detect happy emotions better in a male sample. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 156:106338. [PMID: 37499422 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Psychosocial stress is increasing in society, impacting our lives in all social domains. However, the conditions under which stress facilitates ("tend-and-befriend") or hinders ("fight-or-flight") social approach remain elusive. We tested whether previous heterogeneous findings might be resolved by accounting for individual differences in social performance under stress. For that purpose, we introduce the novel Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) social performance index that was aggregated across ratings from two independent observers. Moreover, we apply an innovative setup enabling electroencephalographic (EEG) data to be measured inside an electrically-shielded cabin during stress, namely the TSST-EEG. Relying on a sample of 59 healthy male participants, we collected behavioral (i.e., sharing resources with others) and cognitive (i.e., detecting facial emotional expressions) approach patterns while participants experienced either acute psychosocial stress (n = 31) or no stress (control condition; n = 28) and while EEG was being recorded. During stress exposure, high-performing participants behaved more prosocially, and differentiated better between happy and neutral emotions on both behavioral and neurophysiological levels (revealed by intensity differences in a N170-like response). Overall, our findings demonstrate the added value of both the novel TSST social performance index and the novel TSST-EEG setup. By showing that high social performance during the TSST is associated with behavioral, cognitive, and neurophysiological approach patterns, our study offers valuable insights into adaptive or maladaptive psychobiological mechanisms in coping with psychosocial stress. Future stress research should address the role of social performance differences during stress in social interaction to better understand the behavioral consequences of psychosocial stress in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Schiller
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Johanna Brustkern
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bernadette von Dawans
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Biological and Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Johanniterufer 15, 54290 Trier, Germany
| | - Marie Habermann
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marti Pacurar
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Asklepios Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Röntgenstr. 22, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Markus Heinrichs
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Wang Y, Gao H, Qi M. Left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation can accelerate stress recovery: A repetitive transcranial stimulation study. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14352. [PMID: 37221649 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a single high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) session was applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) after a moderate-to-intense stressor to investigate whether left DLPFC stimulation could regulate cortisol concentration after stress induction. Participants were randomly divided into three groups (stress-TMS, stress, and placebo-stress). Stress was induced in both the stress-TMS and stress groups using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). The placebo-stress group received a placebo TSST. In the stress-TMS group, a single HF-rTMS session was applied over the left DLPFC after TSST. Cortisol was measured across the different groups, and each group's responses to the stress-related questionnaire were recorded. After TSST, both the stress-TMS and stress groups reported increased self-reported stress, state anxiety, negative affect, and cortisol concentration compared with the placebo-stress group, indicating that TSST successfully induced a stress response. Compared with the stress group, the stress-TMS group exhibited reduced cortisol levels at 0, 15, 30, and 45 min after HF-rTMS. These results suggest that left DLPFC stimulation after stress induction might accelerate the stress recovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Wang
- School of Psychology, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
| | - Heming Gao
- School of Psychology, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
| | - Mingming Qi
- School of Psychology, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Tsormpatzoudi SO, Moraitou D, Papaliagkas V, Pezirkianidis C, Tsolaki M. Resilience in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): Examining the Level and the Associations of Resilience with Subjective Wellbeing and Negative Affect in Early and Late-Stage MCI. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:792. [PMID: 37887442 PMCID: PMC10603887 DOI: 10.3390/bs13100792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study examines the relationship between the cognitive state of participants [healthy-early mild cognitive impairment (MCI)-late MCI], some subjective wellbeing factors (positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, meaning in life, accomplishment, and negative emotions), and negative psychological outcomes (depression, anxiety, stress), as well as psychological resilience. We expected that people with advanced MCI would perceive increased negative psychological outcomes, poorer psychological resilience, and lower levels of subjective wellbeing in contrast to early MCI and healthy participants. The study involved 30 healthy, 31 early, and 28 late MCI individuals. A series of questionnaires have been applied to assess the aforementioned constructs. To examine the hypotheses of the study, path analysis (EQS program) was applied. Results showed that early MCI persons maintain the same levels of positive emotions and feelings of accomplishment with healthy peers. Late-stage patients present those feelings in a diminished form, which adversely impacts psychological resilience. Individuals with early and late MCI exhibit negative emotions and stress that impact their resilience; however, those with early MCI experience greater stress, negative emotions, depression, and anxiety. These findings may be utilized to design psychological interventions for resilience enhancement and support brain health in elderly adults who are at risk of neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Olympia Tsormpatzoudi
- Neurosciences and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Postgraduate Course, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Despina Moraitou
- Laboratory of Psychology, Department of Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, Aristotle University, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasileios Papaliagkas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Christos Pezirkianidis
- Laboratory of Positive Psychology, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Syggrou Ave. 136, 17671 Athens, Greece;
| | - Magda Tsolaki
- Neurosciences and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Postgraduate Course, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, Aristotle University, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Greek Association of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (GAADRD), 54643 Thessaloniki, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Int-Veen I, Fallgatter AJ, Ehlis AC, Rosenbaum D. Prefrontal hypoactivation induced via social stress is more strongly associated with state rumination than depressive symptomatology. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15147. [PMID: 37704652 PMCID: PMC10499935 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41403-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have consistently shown a pattern of prefrontal hypoactivation in depressed patients (DP); however, it remains unclear whether this neural correlate is a consequence or concomitant feature of depression and/or whether ruminative thinking might be underlying. Using a sample comprising 65 healthy controls (HC) and 77 DP, we investigated the behavioral and neural correlates in response to stress and their association with depressive symptomatology, trait and state rumination. Fitting repeated-measurement MANOVAs including 21 fNIRS-channels covering the bilateral Inferior Frontal Gyrus (IFG), Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) and Somatosensory Association Cortex (SAC), we investigated the predictive value of diagnostic group (HC vs. DP) and state rumination. In DP, we observed significantly lower increases in cortical oxygenation under stress in channels of the right IFG and bilateral DLPFC. Participants reporting lower state rumination and no increases in state rumination under stress showed higher increases in cortical oxygenation compared to the other groups and in more channels compared to the analysis on diagnostic group. Re-running our fNIRS-analysis while correcting for performance resulted in time-dependent changes dependent on group (DP vs. HC) no longer yielding significance, however for the differentiation of state rumination groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabell Int-Veen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Andreas J Fallgatter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ann-Christine Ehlis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Tübingen, Germany
| | - David Rosenbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Hanke M, Looser VN, Bruggisser F, Leuenberger R, Gerber M, Ludyga S. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and reactivity to acute psychosocial stress in preadolescent children. J Sci Med Sport 2023; 26:487-492. [PMID: 37550097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES High reactivity to psychosocial stress during childhood increases the risk of future psychological and physiological disorders. The main objective of this study was to investigate associations between children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and physiological and psychological reactions to acute psychosocial stress. DESIGN Randomized cross-over study comparing two groups. METHODS After a 7-day accelerometer-based measurement of MVPA, 110 children aged 10-13 years (48 female) were categorized into a low (<30 min/d) or a high MVPA group (>60 min/d). On separate laboratory appointments, participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C) and a non-stressful control task in randomized order. Stress reactivity was assessed from saliva cortisol, heart rate variability and self-reported anxiety. RESULTS In repeated measures analyses of variance, main effects of condition indicated higher stress reactivity in the TSST-C compared to control for cortisol and anxiety, with more pronounced effects in girls compared to boys. Differences in heart rate variability disappeared after controlling for confounding variables. No interactions with MVPA were found. A main effect of MVPA indicated generally lower cortisol reactivity in the high compared to the low MVPA group. CONCLUSIONS The TSST-C is suitable for induction of psychosocial stress in the laboratory, but sex-specific differences have to be considered. Children who met the WHO recommendations for MVPA exhibited generally lower endocrine reactivity to both laboratory tasks combined, underlining the potential role of regular physical activity in the regulation of the stress response in early developmental stages. Further studies are necessary to ascertain causal associations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Hanke
- University of Basel, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, Switzerland.
| | - Vera Nina Looser
- University of Basel, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Bruggisser
- University of Basel, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, Switzerland
| | - Rahel Leuenberger
- University of Basel, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, Switzerland
| | - Markus Gerber
- University of Basel, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Ludyga
- University of Basel, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Mak HW, Gordon AM, Prather AA, Epel ES, Mendes WB. Acute and Chronic Stress Associations With Blood Pressure: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study on an App-Based Platform. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:585-595. [PMID: 37363963 PMCID: PMC10527536 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the within- and between-person associations of acute and chronic stress with blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) using an app-based research platform. METHODS We examined data from 31,964 adults (aged 18-90 years) in an app-based ecological momentary assessment study that used a research-validated optic sensor to measure BP. RESULTS Within-person associations revealed that moments with (versus without) acute stress exposure were associated with higher systolic (SBP; b = 1.54) and diastolic BP (DBP; b = 0.79) and HR ( b = 1.53; p values < .001). During moments with acute stress exposure, higher acute stress severity than usual was associated with higher SBP ( b = 0.26), DBP ( b = 0.09), and HR ( b = 0.40; p values < .05). During moments without acute stress, higher background stress severity than usual was associated with higher BP and HR (SBP: b = 0.87, DBP: b = 0.51, HR: b = 0.69; p values < .001). Between-person associations showed that individuals with more frequent reports of acute stress exposure or higher chronic stress severity had higher SBP, DBP, and HR ( p values < .05). Between-person chronic stress severity moderated within-person physiological responses to stress such that individuals with higher chronic stress severity had higher average BP and HR levels but showed smaller responses to momentary stress. CONCLUSIONS Technological advancements with optic sensors allow for large-scale physiological data collection, which provides a better understanding of how stressors of different timescales and severity contribute to momentary BP and HR in daily life.
Collapse
|
48
|
Rüttgens T, Wolf OT. Enhanced memory for central visual and auditory elements experienced during a stressful episode. Behav Brain Res 2023; 452:114546. [PMID: 37330015 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Acute psychosocial stress has been shown to benefit memory for central visual elements of a stressful episode. Here, we aimed at investigating whether this effect is accompanied by improved visual memory for the committee members in a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Specifically, we tested participants´ recognition memory for accessories located on the bodies of the committee members, as well as their faces. Moreover, we investigated how stress influences memories for the content of the verbal interactions. That is, we studied how well participants remembered factual information associated with the main stress source, like name, age, and position of the committee members, as well as how accurately they could recite the exact wording of phrases used by them. In a counterbalanced 2 × 2 design, 77 men and women took part either in a stressful or non-stressful version of the TSST. While stressed participants better remembered personal information about the committee members than non-stressed participants, no differences in memory for the correct wording of phrases could be observed. Furthermore, in line with our hypothesis, stressed participants better remembered central, but not peripheral visual stimuli, compared to non-stressed participants, while, contrary to our expectations, stress did neither affect memory for objects located on the bodies of the committee members nor their faces. Our results are in line with the theory of enhanced memory binding under stress and extend previous results regarding improved memory for central visual elements encoded under stress to auditory learning material associated with the stressor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Rüttgens
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Oliver T Wolf
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Gao S, Zhang L, Wang X, Li R, Han L, Xiong X, Jiang Q, Cheng D, Xiao X, Li H, Yang J. A terrified-sound stress causes cognitive impairment in female mice by impairing neuronal plasticity. Brain Res 2023; 1812:148419. [PMID: 37217110 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Stress is an important environmental factor affecting mental health that cannot be ignored. Moreover, due to the great physiological differences between males and females, the effects of stress may vary by sex. Previous studies have shown that terrified-sound stress, meaning exposed mice to the recorded vocalizations in response to the electric shock by their kind to induce psychological stress, can cause cognitive impairment in male. In the study, we investigated the effects of the terrified-sound stress on adult female mice. METHODS 32 adults female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control (n = 16) and stress group (n = 16). Sucrose preference test (SPT)was carried out to evaluate the depressive-like behavior. Using Open field test (OFT) to evaluate locomotor and exploratory alterations in mice. Spatial learning and memory ability were measured in Morris Water maze test (MWM), Golgi staining and western blotting showed dendritic remodeling after stress. In addition, serum hormone quantifications were performed by ELISA. RESULTS we found the sucrose preference of stress group was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) compared with control group; the escape latency of the stress group was significantly prolonged (p < 0.05), the total swimming distance and the number of target crossings(p < 0.05) were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in MWM; Endocrine hormone, Testosterone (T) (p < 0.05), GnRH (p < 0.05), FSH and LH levels was decreased; Golgi staining and western blotting showed a significant decrease in dendritic arborization, spine density and synaptic plasticity related proteins PSD95 and BDNF in the stress group. CONCLUSION Terrified-sound stress induced depressive-like behaviors, locomotor and exploratory alterations. And impaired cognitive by altering dendritic remodeling and the expression of synaptic plasticity-related proteins. However, females are resilient to terrified-sound stress from a hormonal point of view.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanfeng Gao
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head Neck, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, PR China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, PR China
| | - Lingyu Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, PR China
| | - Xia Wang
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, PR China
| | - Rufeng Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, PR China
| | - Lin Han
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, PR China
| | - Xiaofan Xiong
- Department of Tumor and Immunology in Precision Medicine Institute, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Port, Xi'an 710004, PR China
| | - Qingchen Jiang
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, PR China
| | - Daxin Cheng
- Department of Neonatology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, PR China
| | - Xuan Xiao
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, PR China
| | - Huajing Li
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head Neck, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, PR China.
| | - Juan Yang
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an 710061, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
MacLeod KJ, English S, Ruuskanen SK, Taborsky B. Stress in the social context: a behavioural and eco-evolutionary perspective. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245829. [PMID: 37529973 PMCID: PMC10445731 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
The social environment is one of the primary sources of challenging stimuli that can induce a stress response in animals. It comprises both short-term and stable interactions among conspecifics (including unrelated individuals, mates, potential mates and kin). Social stress is of unique interest in the field of stress research because (1) the social domain is arguably the most complex and fluctuating component of an animal's environment; (2) stress is socially transmissible; and (3) stress can be buffered by social partners. Thus, social interactions can be both the cause and cure of stress. Here, we review the history of social stress research, and discuss social stressors and their effects on organisms across early life and adulthood. We also consider cross-generational effects. We discuss the physiological mechanisms underpinning social stressors and stress responses, as well as the potential adaptive value of responses to social stressors. Finally, we identify outstanding challenges in social stress research, and propose a framework for addressing these in future work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sinead English
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Suvi K. Ruuskanen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Survontie 9 C, FI-40014, Finland
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20014, Finland
| | - Barbara Taborsky
- Division of Behavioural Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Institute for Advanced Study, 14193 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|