An intricate relationship: stress markers and associative memory in a laboratory experiment in older adults.

Introduction: Researchers working in the field of cognitive aging frequently encounter highly motivated yet nervous older participants during data collection in the laboratory. Such anecdotal experiences raise the question of whether the affective or physiological response of older participants to p...

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Publicado en:Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience pp. 1 - 14
Autores principales: Knopf, Luisa, Domes, Gregor, Kamp, Siri-Maria
Formato: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: 2025
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      pub: Frontiers Media S.A.
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        10.3389/fnagi.2025.1666566
        189255553
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        atl: An intricate relationship: stress markers and associative memory in a laboratory experiment in older adults.
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        au:
          Knopf, Luisa
          Domes, Gregor
          Kamp, Siri-Maria
        affil: Department of Neurocognitive Psychology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
      sug:
        subj:
          Stress, Psychological Physiopathology
          Associative Memory Evaluation
          Biological Markers Analysis
          Neuropsychological Tests Methods
          Task Performance and Analysis
          Electroencephalography
          Hydrocortisone Blood
          Human
          Funding Source
          Male
          Female
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          Questionnaires
          Descriptive Statistics
          Summated Rating Scaling
          Analysis of Covariance
          Data Analysis Software
          Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient
          Post Hoc Analysis
          Correlational Studies
          Cognitive Aging
          Memory
          Neuroendocrine System
          Saliva Analysis
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
          Male
          Female
      ab: Introduction: Researchers working in the field of cognitive aging frequently encounter highly motivated yet nervous older participants during data collection in the laboratory. Such anecdotal experiences raise the question of whether the affective or physiological response of older participants to psychological laboratory experiments differs to that of young adults, who might be less motivated but also less nervous, as they may be more used to the environment and to learning and memory tests. Methods: In the present study, we collected saliva samples and subjective affective ratings during an EEG experiment on memory, and at home, in young and older adults, while also taking into account sex effects. Results: There was no significant interaction involving time point (laboratory vs. at home) and age group. However, across both time points older males showed significantly higher cortisol-levels than older females, while there was no difference for younger males and females. The trajectories in cortisol levels throughout the session, especially around the memory task, differed by age: While there was a decrease in cortisol levels for younger adults from before to after the memory task, we did not observe such a decrease in older participants. There were few age differences in alpha-amylase or negative affect. However, older adults showed higher ratings of positive affect than younger participants. Importantly, lower cortisol levels before the memory task were associated with higher associative memory performance for older adults. Discussion: Affective reactions to psychological laboratory tasks may hence be an important factor to consider in psychological experiments in the field of cognitive aging.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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