Examining the effects of acute stress on executive attention
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Examining the effects of acute stress on executive attention.
IRAS ID
224862
Contact name
Stuart Pugh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 30 days
Research summary
An earlier study (208860) investigating the effects of stress on cognition and visual attention demonstrated changes to executive control of attention, such as resolving conflicts amongst stimuli. This study will further investigate those changes by examining the "Inhibition of Return" (IoR) and "Conflict Resolution" (CR) effects following acute stress exposure. Stress will be induced in 50% of participants using a Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor paradigm, before and after a series of IoR or CR tasks. Results will help understand how attention is altered during, and following acute stress.
The experiment uses no invasive techniques, no clinical/patient populations, nor any NHS sites. It requires NRES REC approval exclusively for to the collection of saliva samples, taken to the physiological reaction to the stressor. Participants will donate 4 saliva samples during the second session, to test Alpha Amylase and Cortisol levels (biomarkers of the bodies reaction to stress).
Participants will be recruited via the student population at the University of Southampton, predominantly from within the School of Psychology.
Using an online booking system at the University of Southampton, participants have access to the exclusionary criteria and study information (i.e. duration, compensation etc.). Participants attend an initial session, receive a thorough briefing before providing written informed consent. They complete baseline questionnaires and a working memory task lasting 30 minutes. Participants then book a second session, where they complete another series of questionnaires, IoR or CR tasks, and a Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (stressor) or control task. They will also provide 4 saliva samples and have their heart rate monitored, to understand the physiological effect of the stressor. This session will last 90 minutes.
All data and samples generated will be marked with a Unique Identifier, maintaining the utmost confidentiality for participants. They can withdraw at any point during the two sessions.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0143
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion