Abstract

Acute stress can impair human working memory. Little is known, however, about the effects of acute stress on working memory strategies. The goal of this research was to investigate the effects of acute stress on use of a systematic spatial working memory search strategy. Participants (28 females and 20 males per group) completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or control tasks. Use of a systematic spatial working memory search strategy was measured through performance on the spatial working memory subtest of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). The TSST was effective at producing subjective and cortisol stress responses, but there was no significant stress effect on use of a systematic search strategy or working memory search errors. There were also no significant relationships between subjective and cortisol stress responses and use of a systematic search strategy or working memory search errors within the stress group. These results suggest that acute stress does not impair the self-generation or execution of a systematic spatial working memory search strategy.

摘要

急性压力会损害人的工作记忆。然而，关于急性压力对工作记忆策略的影响知之甚少。本研究的目的是调查急性压力对使用系统空间工作记忆搜索策略的影响。参与者（每组 28 名女性和 20 名男性）完成了特里尔社会压力测试 (TSST) 或控制任务。系统空间工作记忆搜索策略的使​​用是通过剑桥神经心理学测试自动电池 (CANTAB) 的空间工作记忆子测试的性能来衡量的。TSST 可有效产生主观和皮质醇应激反应，但对使用系统搜索策略或工作记忆搜索错误没有显着的压力影响。主观和皮质醇压力反应与系统搜索策略的使​​用或压力组内的工作记忆搜索错误之间也没有显着关系。这些结果表明，急性压力不会损害系统空间工作记忆搜索策略的自我生成或执行。