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

中文翻译：

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急性压力可改善注意力表现。

急性应激可能对认知过程产生有害和有益影响，但对集中力表现的影响尚不清楚。在这里，我们调查了急性心理压力对注意力集中表现以及可能的潜在生理和心理机制的影响。该研究样本包括47位健康的男性参与者，他们被随机分配到社会心理压力状况（特里尔社会压力测试）或中性控制任务中。在压力或控制任务之前和之后的30分钟内，使用d2注意测试评估注意力表现。在压力之前和压力后最多1小时重复测量唾液皮质醇和α-淀粉酶。我们反复使用状态特质焦虑量表评估状态焦虑，并使用初次评估次要评估问卷对预期的认知压力进行评估。与对照组相比，压力组显示出更强的集中力表现（p = .042）。状态焦虑增加（p = .020）和皮质醇（压力）降低（p = .043）可以预测浓度表现的改善。α-淀粉酶的变化或认知压力评估均与浓度表现无关。我们的研究结果表明，急性心理压力诱发后的集中表现有所改善，这可以通过较高的状态焦虑增加和较低的皮质醇增加来预测。这表明具有相反作用的特定心理情绪和生理因素的潜在调节作用。