Stress-induced HPA activation in virtual navigation and spatial attention performance

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Previous research indicates acute stress can affect spatial performance, but findings are inconsistent.
• Discrepancies may stem from the type of stress response (SAM vs. HPA), cortisol reactivity, and sex differences.
• This study investigates the influence of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) activation on spatial tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how acute stress, specifically HPA activation via the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test (SECPT), influences spatial attention and virtual reality navigation.
• To investigate potential sex differences in spatial performance under stress.
• To explore the relationship between cortisol response and spatial task performance.

Main Methods:

• 31 males and 30 females were assigned to either the SECPT (stress) or a non-stress control condition.
• Participants completed the Useful Field of View (UFOV) task for spatial attention and a virtual reality (VR) navigation task.
• Cardiovascular measures (heart rate, blood pressure) and salivary cortisol levels were collected.

Main Results:

• The SECPT successfully induced both sympathetic adrenal medulla (SAM) and HPA axis activation, confirmed by physiological and cortisol changes.
• No significant overall effect of stress was observed on VR navigation or UFOV task performance.
• A sex difference emerged in the UFOV task among cortisol responders: males showed higher accuracy than females.
• In females within the stress condition, higher cortisol levels correlated with decreased spatial attention performance.

Conclusions:

• The Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test did not alter VR navigation performance but revealed sex-specific effects on spatial attention.
• Males who were stress-cortisol responders demonstrated superior spatial attention accuracy compared to females.
• Understanding the interplay between HPA activation and prefrontal cortex activity is crucial for elucidating sex differences in spatial attention.