Journal
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
Volume 37, Issue 1, Pages 125-136Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.05.013
Keywords
Acute stress; Cortisol; Alpha-amylase; Memory; Valence; Children; Development
Categories
Funding
- German Research Foundation (DFG) [WO 733/6-2]
- Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal (CAPES), Brazil
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Negative consequences of stress on working memory and delayed memory retrieval have been observed in adult humans. Little is known about the occurrence of similar effects in children. Forty-four German full-term children, aged 8-10 years, were randomly assigned to a stressful (Trier Social Stress Test for Children - TSST-C) or to a non-stressful control condition. Afterwards, delayed memory retrieval was tested using a computerized version of the well-known card game Memory. It contained positive, neutral and negative stimuli. In addition, working memory of verbal and non-verbal material was assessed. The stressed children showed pronounced cortisol increases accompanied by a decrease in mood. Children exposed to the stressor performed poorer in the delayed memory retrieval test (memory card game). They committed more errors. No differences were found for working memory. The stress-induced memory retrieval impairment mirrors findings in adults. In contrast, the missing working memory effects could suggest developmental differences in stress sensitivity. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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