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Published on: June 14, 2019
Examination stress and components of working memory.
Richard S Lewis1, Ani Nikolova, Dennis J Chang
1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Pomona College, Claremont, CA, USA.
Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|September 14, 2007
Summary
Mild examination stress improved the manipulation component of working memory in young adults. However, stress levels did not correlate with working memory performance, indicating further research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Stress Research
Background:
- Previous studies indicate stress impacts memory functions.
- Working memory is crucial for cognitive tasks.
- Naturalistic stressors offer ecologically valid research opportunities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of examination stress on working memory in young adults.
- To assess the relationship between stress markers and working memory performance.
Main Methods:
- Participants underwent Digit Span testing during low and high stress periods.
- Psychological and hormonal stress measures (cortisol) were collected.
- Comparison of working memory performance under varying stress levels.
Main Results:
- High examination stress increased cortisol and subjective stress.
- Digits Backward performance (working memory manipulation) improved under stress.
- Digits Forward performance (working memory retention) showed no significant change.
- No correlation was found between working memory and cortisol or psychological stress levels.
Conclusions:
- Mild naturalistic stressors may enhance the manipulation aspect of working memory.
- The precise mechanisms underlying stress-induced working memory improvements require further investigation.
- Cortisol and subjective stress do not appear to directly mediate the observed working memory changes.
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