Low lifetime stress exposure is associated with reduced stimulus-response memory
Elizabeth V Goldfarb1, Grant S Shields2, Nathaniel D Daw3,4
1Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
Learning & Memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)
|March 17, 2017
Summary
Very low lifetime stress exposure negatively impacts cognitive functions in young adults. Low stress levels were linked to poorer stimulus-response memory and increased reliance on context memory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Cumulative lifetime stress influences health and cognition.
- High stress is linked to psychopathology and memory shifts.
- Effects of very low stress on cognition remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of very low lifetime stress on memory.
- Compare memory performance in very low vs. moderate stress groups.
- Examine effects on episodic and stimulus-response memory.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Stress and Adversity INterview (STRAIN) system for lifetime stress assessment.
- Assessed memory performance in young adults with very low and moderate stress exposure.
- Employed computational modeling to analyze memory expression.
Main Results:
- Very low stress was associated with reduced stimulus-response (SR) memory use and retention.
- Participants with very low stress showed a higher tendency to use context memory.
- Computational modeling indicated impaired SR memory expression in the low-stress group.
Conclusions:
- Very low lifetime stress exposure can negatively affect cognitive functions, specifically SR memory.
- This finding contrasts with the assumption that low stress is always beneficial.
- Highlights the importance of considering the full spectrum of stress exposure on cognitive health.
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