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Keywords = Trier Social Stress Test

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14 pages, 717 KiB  
Article
Maternal Stress Responses and Coping Following a NICU Experience
by Kim K. Doheny, Fumiyuki C. Gardner, Saher Ali, Brittany J. Fronheiser, Claire J. Miller and Gina M. Brelsford
Children 2025, 12(6), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12060660 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 565
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Mothers of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience significant stress, which can have lasting effects on mental health and parent–infant bonding. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore maternal stress response, coping, and resilience by examining physiological stress [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Mothers of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience significant stress, which can have lasting effects on mental health and parent–infant bonding. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore maternal stress response, coping, and resilience by examining physiological stress markers and maternal narratives. Methods: A total of 28 mothers who had an infant hospitalized in the NICU within the past three years participated in a two-hour laboratory session, which included stress induction using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Salivary cortisol (sCort) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured to assess physiological responses. Results: Qualitative analysis of maternal narratives identified two distinct response patterns: an anger/trauma (AT) group (n = 7) and a gratitude/optimism (GO) group (n = 6), with the remaining 15 mothers classified as a mixed (M) group. GO mothers exhibited significantly higher cortisol reactivity during recovery compared to AT mothers (p < 0.01). While GO mothers had higher baseline HF-HRV, no significant between-group differences were found in HRV responses. Conclusions: Findings suggest that maternal perception of NICU experiences is associated with distinct physiological stress response patterns, highlighting the importance of stress appraisal and coping in maternal well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nursing Management in Pediatric Intensive Care)
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16 pages, 1674 KiB  
Article
Validation of a New Stress Induction Protocol Using Speech Improvisation (IMPRO)
by Marina Saskovets, Mykhailo Lohachov and Zilu Liang
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(5), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15050522 - 19 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 650
Abstract
Background: Acute stress induction is essential in psychology research for understanding physiological and psychological responses. In this study, ‘acute stress’ refers to a short-term, immediate stress response—distinct from chronic, long-term stress exposure. Traditional methods, such as the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), have [...] Read more.
Background: Acute stress induction is essential in psychology research for understanding physiological and psychological responses. In this study, ‘acute stress’ refers to a short-term, immediate stress response—distinct from chronic, long-term stress exposure. Traditional methods, such as the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), have ecological validity and resource-efficiency limitations. This study introduces the Interactive Multitask Performance Response Observation (IMPRO) protocol, a novel stress-induction method utilizing speech improvisation in a dynamic and unpredictable social setting. Methods: Thirty-five healthy adults (aged 18–38 years; 19 males, 16 females) participated in the study. The IMPRO protocol consisted of three speech improvisation tasks with increasing cognitive and social stressors. Salivary cortisol was used as a biochemical marker of acute stress, while electrodermal activity (EDA) provided real-time autonomic arousal measurements. Stress responses were assessed using paired t-tests for cortisol levels and repeated-measures ANOVA for EDA variations across experimental stages. Results: Salivary cortisol levels significantly increased from baseline (M = 2.68 nM, SD = 0.99) to post-task (M = 3.54 nM, SD = 1.25, p = 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.59), confirming hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activation. EDA showed a significant rise during the anticipation phase (p < 0.001), peaking at the final task and decreasing during recovery (η2 = 0.643). Conclusions: The IMPRO protocol effectively induces acute stress responses, providing a scalable, ecologically valid alternative to traditional stress paradigms. Its low-cost, adaptable design makes it ideal for research in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral sciences. Future studies should explore its application in clinical populations and group settings. Full article
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15 pages, 2488 KiB  
Article
Effects of Oral Ingestion of L-Ornithine on Mental Stress and Fatigue Based on the Trier Social Stress Test in Healthy Humans: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Trial
by Kazuki Moriyasu, Atsushi Nakajima and Masahiko Morita
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(24), 7583; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13247583 - 13 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2624
Abstract
Background: With changes in the social environment typified by COVID-19, an increasing number of people are suffering from mental stress in interpersonal relationships and the resulting fatigue in recent years. L-ornithine oral ingestion reportedly suppresses the secretion of cortisol, a stress marker, through [...] Read more.
Background: With changes in the social environment typified by COVID-19, an increasing number of people are suffering from mental stress in interpersonal relationships and the resulting fatigue in recent years. L-ornithine oral ingestion reportedly suppresses the secretion of cortisol, a stress marker, through the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. However, there is insufficient research to determine whether L-ornithine exerts an ameliorative effect on social stress. Therefore, in this study, we investigated how L-ornithine affects mental stress and fatigue after social stress in healthy participants. Methods: We randomly assigned 65 participants into two groups, ingesting orally either 1600 mg of L-ornithine or a placebo for 7 days. On the day of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), participants took test products one hour before the testing. We evaluated the effects on saliva cortisol and mood states, including fatigue. Results: While L-ornithine did not affect saliva cortisol levels, it significantly improved the fatigue–inertia and anger–hostility scales of the Profile of Mood States on the morning after the TSST in the L-ornithine group compared to the placebo group. Conclusions: In conclusion, L-ornithine could potentially improve interpersonal social-stress-associated fatigue without involving the HPA axis. Trial registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000048949. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mood Disorders: Diagnosis, Management and Future Opportunities)
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30 pages, 7913 KiB  
Article
Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Subpopulation Changes in Reaction to an Acute Psychosocial Stressor as Compared to an Active Placebo-Stressor in Healthy Young Males: Mediating Effects of Major Stress-Reactive Endocrine Parameters
by Lisa-Marie Walther, Angelina Gideon, Christine Sauter, Marcel Leist and Petra H. Wirtz
Cells 2024, 13(23), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13231941 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1272
Abstract
Psychosocial stress has been proposed to induce a redistribution of immune cells, but a comparison with an active placebo-psychosocial stress control condition is lacking so far. We investigated immune cell redistribution due to psychosocial stress compared to that resulting from an active placebo-psychosocial [...] Read more.
Psychosocial stress has been proposed to induce a redistribution of immune cells, but a comparison with an active placebo-psychosocial stress control condition is lacking so far. We investigated immune cell redistribution due to psychosocial stress compared to that resulting from an active placebo-psychosocial stress but otherwise identical control condition. Moreover, we tested for mediating effects of endocrine parameters and blood volume changes. The final study sample comprised 64 healthy young men who underwent either a psychosocial stress condition (Trier Social Stress Test; TSST; n = 38) or an active placebo-psychosocial stress control condition (PlacTSST; n = 26). Immune cell counts and hemoglobin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, ACTH, renin, and aldosterone levels, as well as those of saliva cortisol, were determined before and up to 30 min after the TSST/PlacTSST. The TSST induced greater increases in total leukocyte, monocyte, and lymphocyte levels as compared to the PlacTSST (p’s ≤ 0.001), but in not granulocyte counts. Neutrophil granulocyte counts increased in reaction to both the TSST and PlacTSST (p’s ≤ 0.001), while eosinophil and basophil granulocyte counts did not. The psychosocial stress-induced increases in immune cell counts from baseline to peak (i.e., +1 min after TSST cessation) were independently mediated by parallel increases in epinephrine (ab’s ≤ −0.43; 95% CIs [LLs ≤ −0.66; ULs ≤ −0.09]). Subsequent decreases in immune cell counts from +1 min to +10 min after psychosocial stress cessation were mediated by parallel epinephrine, renin, and blood volume decreases (ab’s ≥ 0.17; 95% CIs [LLs ≥ 0.02; ULs ≥ 0.35]). Our findings indicate that psychosocial stress specifically induces immune cell count increases in most leukocyte subpopulations that are not secondary to the physical or cognitive demands of the stress task. Increases in the number of circulating neutrophil granulocytes, however, are not psychosocial stress-specific and even occur in situations with a low probability of threat or harm. Our findings point to a major role of epinephrine in mediating stress-induced immune cell count increases and of epinephrine, renin, and blood volume changes in mediating subsequent immune cell count decreases from +1 min to +10 min after psychosocial stress cessation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innate Immunity in Health and Disease)
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12 pages, 1720 KiB  
Article
Revisiting Eysenck: The Association Between Personality and Acute Stress Reactivity
by Max J. Marshall, Katlyn Peck, Robin Hunter, Julia Totosy de Zepetnek and Alexandra J. Fiocco
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111098 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 2052
Abstract
Eysenck’s biopsychological model of stress posits that the extraversion–introversion distinction is associated with different thresholds of arousal, which in turn moderate the stress response. Although higher thresholds of activation have been reported in the context of physiological stress induction, more contemporary research has [...] Read more.
Eysenck’s biopsychological model of stress posits that the extraversion–introversion distinction is associated with different thresholds of arousal, which in turn moderate the stress response. Although higher thresholds of activation have been reported in the context of physiological stress induction, more contemporary research has resulted in mixed findings. The objective of the current study was to revisit Eysenck’s biopsychological model of stress by examining associations between the two personality dimensions (extraversion–introversion and neuroticism–stability) and stress reactivity in response to the Trier Social Stress Test. A total of 122 participants aged 18 to 80 years were recruited. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires, including a personality questionnaire, and were exposed to the TSST, during which salivary cortisol and galvanic skin responses (GSR) were recorded. People scoring higher on extraversion displayed heightened GSR relative to people scoring lower on extraversion. Furthermore, sex-based analyses suggest that this association was driven by females. No significant associations were found for cortisol or with respect to the neuroticism–stability dimension of personality. These findings highlight the need to take a more nuanced approach to investigating the association between personality and stress reactivity, highlighting the importance of the stress induction protocol and the stress-sensitive system under investigation. Full article
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20 pages, 12210 KiB  
Article
Effects of Window Green View Index on Stress Recovery of College Students from Psychological and Physiological Aspects
by Xiaotong Jing, Chao Liu, Jiaxin Li, Weijun Gao and Hiroatsu Fukuda
Buildings 2024, 14(10), 3316; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14103316 - 21 Oct 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2882
Abstract
Students often experience high levels of daily academic pressure, spending extended periods within indoor classroom environments. Windows, as a medium of proximity to nature, play an important role in relieving stress. However, the broader implications of the Window Green View Index (WGVI) on [...] Read more.
Students often experience high levels of daily academic pressure, spending extended periods within indoor classroom environments. Windows, as a medium of proximity to nature, play an important role in relieving stress. However, the broader implications of the Window Green View Index (WGVI) on individual well-being remain underexplored. This study aims to assess the effects of WGVI on stress recovery in college students by utilizing virtual reality technology to create five classroom environments with varying WGVI levels: 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Twenty-four participants were subjected to the Trier Social Stress Test before engaging with the different WGVI scenarios for stress recovery. Both subjective assessments and objective physiological indicators were evaluated. Results indicated that participants exhibited the lowest Profile of Mood States (POMS) score (−4.50) and significantly improved systolic blood pressure recovery at a 25% WGVI level. The examination of EEG data revealed that the O2 channel in the occipital region exhibited the highest level of activity in the alpha frequency range during the experiment. Additionally, a significant association was observed between the EEG measurements and the subjective rating of stress. This study underscores the significance of incorporating WGVI into the design and planning of college buildings to promote mental health and well-being among students. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Architectural Design, Urban Science, and Real Estate)
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16 pages, 1702 KiB  
Article
The Presence of a Pet Dog Is Associated with a More Balanced Response to a Social Stressor
by Jaci Gandenberger, Aurélie Ledreux, Ashley Taeckens, Kerry Murphy, Jenni Forkin, Anah Gilmore and Kevin N. Morris
Stresses 2024, 4(3), 598-613; https://doi.org/10.3390/stresses4030038 - 23 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3828
Abstract
Acute and chronic stress each have physical manifestations in the human body that can lead to many negative health impacts. Today, reported stress levels worldwide are at an all-time high, spurring the search for non-pharmaceutical interventions to maintain healthy stress levels. In this [...] Read more.
Acute and chronic stress each have physical manifestations in the human body that can lead to many negative health impacts. Today, reported stress levels worldwide are at an all-time high, spurring the search for non-pharmaceutical interventions to maintain healthy stress levels. In this study, we examined whether a pet dog’s presence influences healthy adults’ acute stress responses as assessed through self-reports, heart rate, plasma cortisol, and salivary alpha-amylase. Participating pet dog owners were randomly assigned to undergo the Trier Social Stress Test either with their pet dog or alone. While there was no group difference in perceived anxiety levels, participants undergoing the acute psychological stressor with their pet dogs present had significantly lower heart rates, lower plasma cortisol responses, and higher salivary alpha-amylase responses than people without their dogs. Those who participated without their dogs had a statistically flat alpha-amylase response, which is typically associated with extreme or pathological stress. These findings extend the potential effects of pet dogs beyond merely lowering their owner’s stress levels to maintaining a healthier, balanced response across the sympathoadrenal medullary axis and hypothalamic–pituitary-adrenal axis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Human and Animal Stresses)
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19 pages, 5555 KiB  
Article
The Role of Emotion Regulation and Awareness in Psychosocial Stress: An EEG-Psychometric Correlational Study
by Roberta A. Allegretta, Katia Rovelli and Michela Balconi
Healthcare 2024, 12(15), 1491; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12151491 - 27 Jul 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4038
Abstract
Background: In stressful situations, to overcome unpleasant emotions, individuals try to manage stress through emotion regulation strategies such as cognitive reappraisal, interoception, and mindfulness. Method: 26 healthy adults underwent a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (named the Social Stress Test, [...] Read more.
Background: In stressful situations, to overcome unpleasant emotions, individuals try to manage stress through emotion regulation strategies such as cognitive reappraisal, interoception, and mindfulness. Method: 26 healthy adults underwent a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (named the Social Stress Test, SST) while their electrophysiological (EEG) activity was monitored. Participants also completed self-report questionnaires prior to this, including the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), Emotional Regulation of Others and Self (EROS), and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Three brain regions of interest (ROIs) were considered in the EEG data processing: frontal, temporo-central, and parieto-occipital. Correlational analyses were performed between psychometric scales and EEG band power spectral values for each ROI. Results: The results showed positive correlations between interoceptive awareness, mindfulness, and high-frequency EEG bands (beta, alpha, gamma) over frontal ROI, indicating enhanced cognitive processing and emotional regulation. Conversely, emotion regulation and empathy measures correlated positively with low-frequency EEG bands (delta, theta), associated with improved social cognition and top-down regulatory processes. Conclusions: These findings suggest that EEG correlations of the stress response are connected to emotion regulation mechanisms, emphasizing the importance of body state awareness in managing stress and emotions for overall well-being and quality of life. Full article
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15 pages, 1347 KiB  
Article
Pain of Threatened Self: Explicit and Implicit Self-Esteem, Cortisol Responses to a Social Threat and Pain Perception
by Ewa Wojtyna, Magdalena Hyla and Aleksandra Hachuła
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(9), 2705; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13092705 - 4 May 2024
Viewed by 2431
Abstract
Background: Rejection, injustice, and exclusion from meaningful interpersonal relationships are often extremely painful and stress-generating experiences. This study aimed to define the role of explicit and implicit self-esteem in pain perception as a component of the physiological–psychological system that regulates the body’s [...] Read more.
Background: Rejection, injustice, and exclusion from meaningful interpersonal relationships are often extremely painful and stress-generating experiences. This study aimed to define the role of explicit and implicit self-esteem in pain perception as a component of the physiological–psychological system that regulates the body’s response to stress associated with the threat of social rejection. Methods: In total, 360 individuals participated in this study. The measurement of cortisol in saliva, the assessment of pain thresholds using thermal stimuli, the IAT to assess implicit self-esteem, and a questionnaire on global self-esteem and social pain were used. The study included three measurements: baseline and 15 and 45 min after the application of a laboratory socially threatening stimulus (the Trier Social Stress Test). Results: People experiencing chronic social pain (CSP) are more likely to have fragile self-esteem, higher pain thresholds, and tend to experience reduced pain tolerance in situations of acute social threat than people without CSP experience. In people with CSP and fragile self-esteem, after the introduction of a social threat, an increase in pain tolerance was observed along with a longer-lasting increase in cortisol levels. Conclusions: Fragile self-esteem, along with feelings of chronic exclusion, injustice, and rejection, may prolong stress reactions and produce a hypoalgesic effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mental Health)
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11 pages, 470 KiB  
Article
Cortisol Reactivity to Acute Psychosocial Stress in Physician Burnout
by Claudia Zuccarella-Hackl, Mary Princip, Sarah A. Holzgang, Sinthujan Sivakumar, Alexa Kuenburg, Aju P. Pazhenkottil, Diego Gomez Vieito and Roland von Känel
Biomedicines 2024, 12(2), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12020335 - 1 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3020
Abstract
Background: Physician burnout, characterized by chronic job-related stress leading to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. This cross-sectional study investigates cortisol reactivity in male physicians with burnout compared to healthy controls during an acute psychosocial stress test. Methods: Sixty male physicians (30 [...] Read more.
Background: Physician burnout, characterized by chronic job-related stress leading to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. This cross-sectional study investigates cortisol reactivity in male physicians with burnout compared to healthy controls during an acute psychosocial stress test. Methods: Sixty male physicians (30 burnout, 30 healthy controls) participated between September 2019 and December 2021 to investigate the impact of burnout on cardiovascular health. Salivary cortisol levels were measured before and after a Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Burnout was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Covariates included age, BMI, and physical activity. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis and area under the curve analysis. Results: Male physicians with burnout exhibited significantly greater cortisol reactivity during the TSST, notably post-stress to 15 min post-stress. Emotional exhaustion correlated with reduced cortisol increase from pre-stress and smaller post-stress to 15- and 45-min declines. Discussion: Findings suggest heightened cortisol reactivity in male physicians with burnout, possibly reflecting initial chronic stress stages. This study highlights the necessity for long-term research on cortisol’s influence on cardiovascular health and stress responses across diverse groups. Conclusions: The findings contribute to comprehending physiological responses in burnout-afflicted physicians, emphasizing cortisol reactivity’s pivotal role in stress-related research and its potential health implications, particularly within the burnout context. Full article
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15 pages, 6692 KiB  
Article
Automatic Segmentation of Facial Regions of Interest and Stress Detection Using Machine Learning
by Daniel Jaramillo-Quintanar, Jean K. Gomez-Reyes, Luis A. Morales-Hernandez, Benjamin Dominguez-Trejo, David A. Rodriguez-Medina and Irving A. Cruz-Albarran
Sensors 2024, 24(1), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24010152 - 27 Dec 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2236
Abstract
Stress is a factor that affects many people today and is responsible for many of the causes of poor quality of life. For this reason, it is necessary to be able to determine whether a person is stressed or not. Therefore, it is [...] Read more.
Stress is a factor that affects many people today and is responsible for many of the causes of poor quality of life. For this reason, it is necessary to be able to determine whether a person is stressed or not. Therefore, it is necessary to develop tools that are non-invasive, innocuous, and easy to use. This paper describes a methodology for classifying stress in humans by automatically detecting facial regions of interest in thermal images using machine learning during a short Trier Social Stress Test. Five regions of interest, namely the nose, right cheek, left cheek, forehead, and chin, are automatically detected. The temperature of each of these regions is then extracted and used as input to a classifier, specifically a Support Vector Machine, which outputs three states: baseline, stressed, and relaxed. The proposal was developed and tested on thermal images of 25 participants who were subjected to a stress-inducing protocol followed by relaxation techniques. After testing the developed methodology, an accuracy of 95.4% and an error rate of 4.5% were obtained. The methodology proposed in this study allows the automatic classification of a person’s stress state based on a thermal image of the face. This represents an innovative tool applicable to specialists. Furthermore, due to its robustness, it is also suitable for online applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infrared Sensing and Thermal Imaging for Biomedical Engineering)
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10 pages, 671 KiB  
Brief Report
Stress and Right Prefrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Interactive Effects on Visual Working Memory and Learning
by Yael L. E. Ankri, Yoram C. Braw and Oded Meiron
Brain Sci. 2023, 13(12), 1642; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13121642 - 27 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2558
Abstract
Stress impacts prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity and modulates working memory performance. In a recent study, stimulating the dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) interacted with social stress in modulating participants’ working memory. More specifically, stress disrupted the enhancing effects of [...] Read more.
Stress impacts prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity and modulates working memory performance. In a recent study, stimulating the dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) interacted with social stress in modulating participants’ working memory. More specifically, stress disrupted the enhancing effects of dlPFC tDCS on working memory performance. The current study aimed to further explore these initial findings by randomizing healthy females to four experimental conditions (N = 130); stimulation (right dlPFC tDCS vs. sham) and stress manipulation (social stress vs. control). Participants performed cognitive tasks (i.e., visual working memory task and a visual declarative memory task) at baseline and post-stimulation. They also completed self-report measures of stress and anxiety. A significant stimulation × stress interaction was evident in the declarative memory (One-Card Learning, OCL) task, while working memory performance was unaffected. Though tDCS stimulation and stress did not interact to affect working memory, further research is warranted as these initial findings suggest that immediate visual-memory learning may be affected by these factors. The limited number of earlier studies, as well as the variability in their designs, provides additional impetus for studying the interactive effects of stress and tDCS on human visual learning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Working Memory and Emotion Regulation Research)
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13 pages, 789 KiB  
Article
Allopregnanolone Is Associated with a Stress-Induced Reduction of Heart Rate Variability in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
by Ajna Hamidovic, John Davis, Fatimata Soumare, Aamina Naveed, Yaseen Ghani, Selma Semiz, Dina Khalil and Margaret Wardle
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(4), 1553; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12041553 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3885
Abstract
Human survival and wellbeing require appropriate responses to stress, including a highly coordinated and efficient nervous system control of the heart rhythm. During stress, a greater disinhibition of the vagal nerve is reflective of poor stress adaptability, which may be relevant in premenstrual [...] Read more.
Human survival and wellbeing require appropriate responses to stress, including a highly coordinated and efficient nervous system control of the heart rhythm. During stress, a greater disinhibition of the vagal nerve is reflective of poor stress adaptability, which may be relevant in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)—a debilitating affective condition thought to be marked by dysregulated stress processing and sensitivity to allopregnanolone. In the present study, women with PMDD (n = 17) and healthy controls (n = 18), who did not take medication, smoke, or consume illicit drugs, and who were free of other psychiatric conditions, participated in the Trier Social Stress Test, during which we measured the high frequency of the heart rate (HF-HRV) and allopregnanolone using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Relative to their baseline, women who have PMDD, but not the healthy controls, experienced a reduction in HF-HRV during stress anticipation (p ≤ 0.05) and stress (p ≤ 0.01). Their recovery from stress was significantly delayed (p ≤ 0.05). Absolute peak HF-HRV change from baseline was significantly predicted by baseline allopregnanolone only in the PMDD group (p ≤ 0.01). The present study shows how an interaction between stress and allopregnanolone—which have both been separately implicated in PMDD—underlies PMDD expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pharmacology)
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15 pages, 553 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Personality on Interpersonal Emotion Regulation in the Context of Psychosocial Stress
by Robin Wickett, Nils Muhlert and Karen Niven
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3073; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043073 - 9 Feb 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4857
Abstract
Interpersonal emotion regulation is common in everyday life and important to various outcomes. However, there is a lack of understanding about the personality profiles of people who are good at regulating others’ emotions. We conducted a dyadic study, pairing 89 ‘regulators’ and ‘targets’, [...] Read more.
Interpersonal emotion regulation is common in everyday life and important to various outcomes. However, there is a lack of understanding about the personality profiles of people who are good at regulating others’ emotions. We conducted a dyadic study, pairing 89 ‘regulators’ and ‘targets’, with the targets subjected to a psychosocial stressor in the form of a job interview, and the regulators instructed to manage the targets’ feelings prior to the interview. We did not observe any relationship between the regulators’ personality traits and the strategies that they reported using when trying to manage the targets’ feelings, nor between the regulators’ personalities and the targets’ job interview performance. However, the anxiety levels of the targets who were paired with more extraverted regulators fluctuated less across the multiple measures throughout the study, suggesting more effective interpersonal emotion regulation. Our findings suggest that extraversion may be the most relevant trait in shaping interpersonal emotion regulation, and that the influence of personality on regulatory effectiveness is unlikely to arise due to preferences for using different types of strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emotion Regulation: Facing Your Mood)
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14 pages, 1147 KiB  
Article
Kinetics of Plasma Cell-Free DNA under a Highly Standardized and Controlled Stress Induction
by Benedict Herhaus, Elmo Neuberger, Ema Juškevičiūtė, Perikles Simon and Katja Petrowski
Cells 2023, 12(4), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12040564 - 9 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2576
Abstract
Psychological stress affects the immune system and activates peripheral inflammatory pathways. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is associated with systemic inflammation, and recent research indicates that cfDNA is an inflammatory marker that is sensitive to psychological stress in humans. The present study investigated the [...] Read more.
Psychological stress affects the immune system and activates peripheral inflammatory pathways. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is associated with systemic inflammation, and recent research indicates that cfDNA is an inflammatory marker that is sensitive to psychological stress in humans. The present study investigated the effects of acute stress on the kinetics of cfDNA in a within-subjects design. Twenty-nine males (mean age: 24.34 ± 4.08 years) underwent both the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and a resting condition. Blood samples were collected at two time points before and at 9 time points up to 105 min after both conditions. The cfDNA immediately increased 2-fold after the TSST and returned to baseline levels after 30 min after the test, showing that a brief psychological stressor was sufficient to evoke a robust and rapid increase in cfDNA levels. No associations were detected between perceived stress, whereas subjects with higher basal cfDNA levels showed higher increases. The rapid cfDNA regulation might be attributed to the transient activation of immune cells caused by neuroendocrine-immune activation. Further research is required to evaluate the reliability of cfDNA as a marker of neuroendocrine-immune activation, which could be used for diagnostics purposes or monitoring of treatment progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism of Stress, Stress Response, and Adaptation)
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