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Bajo Presión: Excitación Simpática Sostenida en Personas Propensas a Fallos Cognitivos
Roger C McIntosh1, Maria Di Bello1, Ramanamurthy V Mylavarapu2
1Department of Psychology, University of Miami.
Background:
The resolution of cognitive interference associated with Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT) has been linked to an elevated sympathetic stress response. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) has been implicated in this response; however, it is unclear whether psychophysiological and behavioral responses to the MSIT vary in individuals more susceptible to experiencing daily lapses in cognitive control.
Methods:
Contrast in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response to cognitive interference (incongruent trials - congruent trials), skin conductance levels (SCL), accuracy, and reaction time on the MSIT were evaluated as a function of self-reported cognitive failure in 118 healthy adults (mean age 30.6 ± 6.8 years, 62.4% female). BOLD response to cognitive interference was also compared to SCL levels.
Results:
Greater BOLD response of the dACC during the MSIT predicted higher SCL during both incongruent and congruent trials. Although accuracy, reaction time, and BOLD response to the MSIT did not vary as a function of cognitive failure, SCL decreased by nearly 1 logarithmic unit pre- to post-task in those reporting lower levels of cognitive failure compared to no change in SCL amongst persons reporting greater frequency of cognitive failures.
Conclusion:
These findings confirm dACC BOLD response to cognitive interference on the MSIT as an indicator of sympathetic arousal and further suggests that while task performance is preserved among individuals reporting more frequent cognitive failures during everyday life, these individuals show sustained sympathetic arousal and poorer post-task recovery of SCL, making them more susceptible cognitive task-evoked mental stress.
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