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Stress Disrupts Human Hippocampal-Prefrontal Function during Prospective Spatial Navigation and Hinders Flexible
Thackery I Brown1, Stephanie A Gagnon2, Anthony D Wagner3
1School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Current Biology : CB
|April 4, 2020
Summary
Acute psychological stress impairs future planning by disrupting memory retrieval and neural replay, leading to less efficient navigation and behavior. This impacts goal-directed outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Future planning and flexible behavior are crucial for goal achievement.
- Neural and cognitive stress mechanisms can negatively impact memory and prospective planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how acute psychological stress affects goal-directed navigational planning.
- To understand the neural and behavioral mechanisms underlying stress-induced changes in planning and efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), neuroendocrinology, and machine learning.
- Employed a virtual navigation planning task with human participants.
- Induced acute psychological stress in experimental participants.
Main Results:
- Stressed participants showed disrupted neural activity essential for memory retrieval and mental simulation.
- Participants under stress exhibited reduced use of shortcuts and increased reliance on familiar routes.
- Neural and behavioral changes were linked to impaired neural replay of spatial memories.
Conclusions:
- Acute psychological stress disrupts the neural processes supporting prospective planning and efficient behavior.
- Stress hinders the ability to mentally simulate future scenarios and utilize optimal strategies.
- Impaired neural replay of spatial memory provides a mechanism for stress-induced planning deficits.
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