Abstract
A major control demand in successful dual-task performance is the task-specific separation of task-goal representations and
of the related stimulus–response translation processes. In the present study, we investigated how these cognitive control
processes of task shielding are affected by acute psychosocial stress. Fifty-six healthy participants were exposed to either
an acute psychosocial stressor (the Trier Social Stress Test) or a standardized control situation prior to a dual task. Task
shielding was assessed by analyzing the interference of Task 2 processing on prioritized Task 1 performance. Following successful
stress induction, as indicated by increases in salivary α-amylase (sAA) and cortisol that reflect increases in sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)
axis activity, respectively, stressed individuals displayed reduced task shielding relative to controls. This result was further
substantiated by a correlation between treatment-related increase in cortisol, but not sAA, and between-task interference,
suggesting a potential role of the HPA stress response for the development of the observed effects. As an additional finding,
when the volunteers were categorized with regard to their action–state orientation, their orientation did not interact with
stress but did reveal generally increased between-task interference, and thus inferior task shielding, for state-oriented
as compared to action-oriented individuals.
of the related stimulus–response translation processes. In the present study, we investigated how these cognitive control
processes of task shielding are affected by acute psychosocial stress. Fifty-six healthy participants were exposed to either
an acute psychosocial stressor (the Trier Social Stress Test) or a standardized control situation prior to a dual task. Task
shielding was assessed by analyzing the interference of Task 2 processing on prioritized Task 1 performance. Following successful
stress induction, as indicated by increases in salivary α-amylase (sAA) and cortisol that reflect increases in sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)
axis activity, respectively, stressed individuals displayed reduced task shielding relative to controls. This result was further
substantiated by a correlation between treatment-related increase in cortisol, but not sAA, and between-task interference,
suggesting a potential role of the HPA stress response for the development of the observed effects. As an additional finding,
when the volunteers were categorized with regard to their action–state orientation, their orientation did not interact with
stress but did reveal generally increased between-task interference, and thus inferior task shielding, for state-oriented
as compared to action-oriented individuals.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.3758/s13415-012-0098-6
- Authors
- Franziska Plessow, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
- Susann Schade, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
- Clemens Kirschbaum, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
- Rico Fischer, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
- Journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
- Online ISSN 1531-135X
- Print ISSN 1530-7026