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Stress and decision making: a few minutes make all the difference
Stephan Pabst1, Matthias Brand, Oliver T Wolf
1Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany. Stephan.Pabst@rub.de
Behavioural Brain Research
|May 7, 2013
Summary
Stress impacts decision-making differently over time. Moderate stress hormones like norepinephrine may enhance risk-taking, while cortisol can impair it, affecting choices after acute stress.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Decision Science
Background:
- Stress is known to impair decision-making abilities.
- The temporal dynamics of stress effects on decision-making are not well understood.
- Norepinephrine and cortisol, stress hormones with different response times, may have opposing effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time-dependent effects of acute stress on decision-making under risk.
- To examine the differential roles of rapid (norepinephrine) and delayed (cortisol) stress responses on cognitive performance.
Main Methods:
- Three experimental groups underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST).
- Participants performed the Game of Dice Task (GDT) at 5, 18, or 28 minutes post-stress onset.
- A control group performed the GDT after a resting period.
Main Results:
- Sympathetic nervous system activation was rapid, followed by a slower hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response.
- Decision-making performance improved in groups tested 5 and 18 minutes after stress onset compared to controls.
- Decision-making was riskier in the 28-minute group, suggesting potential impairment.
Conclusions:
- Moderate increases in catecholamines (like norepinephrine) may enhance decision-making under risk.
- Elevated cortisol levels at later time points might negatively impact decision-making, possibly through rapid non-genomic mechanisms.
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