Cited by 818Stress Responses and CortisolNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesCognitive Abilities and Testing

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 89 of the 89 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The effects of acute stress on core executive functions: A meta-analysis and comparison with cortisol

Open access

Shields, Grant S., Sazma, Matthew A., Yonelinas, Andrew P.·2016·Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

DOI 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.038PMC PMC5003767

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Core executive functions such as working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility are integral to daily life. A growing body of research has suggested that acute stress may impair core executive functions. However, there are a number of inconsistencies in the literature, leading to uncertainty about how or even if acute stress influences core executive functions. We addressed this by conducting a meta-analysis of acute stress effects on working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility. We found that stress impaired working memory and cognitive flexibility, whereas it had nuanced effects on inhibition. Many of these effects were moderated by other variables, such as sex. In addition, we compared effects of acute stress on core executive functions to effects of cortisol administration and found some striking differences. Our findings indicate that stress works through mechanisms aside from or in addition to cortisol to produce a state characterized by more reactive processing of salient stimuli but greater control over actions. We conclude by highlighting some important future directions for stress and executive function research.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.038

Cites

89 of 89 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test
Egger, M., Smith, G. D., Schneider, M., & Minder, C. (1997) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.315.7109.629 · Cited by 56,722
The Unity and Diversity of Executive Functions and Their Contributions to Complex “Frontal Lobe” Tasks: A Latent Variable Analysis
Miyake, A., Friedman, N. P., Emerson, M. J., Witzki, A. H., Howerter, A., & Wager, T. D. (2000) · Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1006/cogp.1999.0734 · Cited by 15,798
Introduction to Meta‐Analysis
Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P. T., & Rothstein, H. R. (2009) · doi:10.1002/9780470743386 · Cited by 14,225
Executive functions
Diamond, A. (2013) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750 · Cited by 13,268
Calculating and reporting effect sizes to facilitate cumulative science: A practical primer for t-tests and ANOVAs
Lakens, D. (2013) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00863 · Cited by 10,303
Introduction to Meta‐Analysis
Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P. T., & Rothstein, H. R. (2021) · doi:10.1002/9781119558378 · Cited by 9,799
Acute stressors and cortisol responses: a theoretical integration and synthesis of laboratory research
Dickerson, S. S., & Kemeny, M. E. (2004) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.3.355 · Cited by 5,881
WEIRD languages have misled us, too
Majid, A., & Levinson, S. C. (2010) · Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1017/s0140525x1000018x · Cited by 4,177
Most people are not WEIRD
Henrich, J., Heine, S. J., & Norenzayan, A. (2010) · Nature · doi:10.1038/466029a · Cited by 3,441
Psychological stress and the human immune system: a meta-analytic study of 30 Years of inquiry
Segerstrom, S. C., & Miller, G. E. (2004) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.4.601 · Cited by 3,334

Flagged first, then by citations

Show all 89 references

Sorted by citations

Items 401–500 of 818

Psychological Stabilization as a Driver of Digital Adoption
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025) · doi:10.64357/psych-stabilization-digital-adoption-2026 · Cited by 5
The effects of acute stress on attentional networks and working memory in females
Stone, C., Ney, L. J., Felmingham, K. L., Nichols, D. S., & Matthews, A. J. (2021) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113602 · Cited by 6
Maternal Psychological Distress and Executive Functions Are Associated During Early Parenthood – A FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study
Nordenswan, E., Deater-Deckard, K. D., Kataja, E., Karrasch, M., Pelto, J., Laine, M., Karlsson, H., Karlsson, L., & Korja, R. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.719996 · Cited by 5
Sadness-Based Approach-Avoidance Modification Training for Subjective Stress in Adults: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Rupp, L. H., Keinert, M., Böhme, S., Schindler‐Gmelch, L., Eskofier, B. M., Schuller, B. W., & Berking, M. (2023) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/50324 · Cited by 5
Quadratic associations between cardiovascular stress reactivity and development of cool and hot executive functions in adolescents
Lu, W. D., & Huang, Y. (2024) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579424000440 · Cited by 6
Sleep/wake regularity influences how stress shapes executive function
Gilmore, G. R., Smith, A. L., Dickinson, F. B., Crosswell, A. D., Mendes, W. B., & Whitehurst, L. N. (2024) · Frontiers in Sleep · doi:10.3389/frsle.2024.1359723 · Cited by 5
The effect of financial stress on inhibitory control and economic decisions
Hughes, B. T., Ludwig, R. M., Robles, K. E., & Berkman, E. (2024) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2024.104621 · Cited by 8
Cognitive Training Prevents Stress-Induced Working Memory Deficits
Loock, K., & Schwabe, L. (2024) · Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.06.006 · Cited by 7
The Memory and Affective Flexibility Task: a new behavioral tool to assess neurocognitive processes implicated in emotion-related impulsivity and internalizing symptoms
Allen, J. D., Elliott, M., Ronold, E. H., Rajgopal, N. A., Hammar, Å., & Johnson, S. L. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1456691 · Cited by 5
The influence of acute stress on working memory: Physiological and psychological mechanisms
Wanru, L. I., & Ku, Y. (2020) · Advances in Psychological Science · doi:10.3724/sp.j.1042.2020.01508 · Cited by 5
Enraizamento de estacas de kiwi Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C. F. Liang & A. R. Ferguson var. Deliciosa
Mattiuz, B., & Fachinello, J. C. (1996) · Americanae (AECID Library) · Cited by 5
When Parents Wear Dark Glasses: An Experimental Study on Parental Negative Attributions and Parenting Behavior
Mouton, B., Weeland, J., Leijten, P. H. O., & Overbeek, G. J. (2022) · Journal of Child and Family Studies · doi:10.1007/s10826-022-02446-3 · Cited by 5
Emotionally based strategic communications as a new tool in defensive cognitive warfare
Ćosić, K., Popović, S., & Wiederhold, B. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1751406 · Cited by 4
Lying Under Pressure: Examining the Impact of Stress and Veracity on Verbal and Nonverbal Behaviors in Credibility Judgments
Bogaard, G., Dimopoulos, R., & Quaedflieg, C. W. E. M. (2025) · Applied Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1002/acp.70018 · Cited by 5
Fatigue in wildland firefighting: relationships between sleep, shift characteristics, and cognitive function
Wallace-Webb, J. E., Coehoorn, C. J., Purewal, S., Thomas, G., Muirhead, K., Angus, J., & Stuart-Hill, L. A. (2025) · International Journal of Wildland Fire · doi:10.1071/wf24212 · Cited by 5
Do not immerse and drive? prolonged effects of cybersickness on physiological stress markers and cognitive performance
Zielasko, D., Rehling, B., von Dawans, B., & Domes, G. (2026) · Virtual Reality · doi:10.1007/s10055-026-01335-0 · Cited by 5
The Neurobiology of Stress
Kleshchova, O., & Weierich, M. R. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-81245-4_2 · Cited by 4
Does Climate Change Exacerbate Gender Inequality in Cognitive Performance?
Chen, H., & Yu, Y. (2024) · Global Environmental Change · doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2024.102941 · Cited by 5
Left ventromedial prefrontal cortex inhibitory rTMS as an anti-stress intervention in opioid use disorder: Trial design
Moses, T. E. H., Lenz, D., Lundahl, L. H., Mischel, N., Rabinak, C. A., & Greenwald, M. K. (2024) · Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications · doi:10.1016/j.conctc.2024.101414 · Cited by 4
Cognitive Health Costs of Poor Housing for Women: Exploring Executive Function and Housing Stress in Urban Slums in India
Vaid, U. G. (2024) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph21121710 · Cited by 4
Effects of stress on cognitive performance
Nwikwe, D. C. (2025) · Progress in brain research · doi:10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.01.015 · Cited by 4
The Body as a Battleground: A Qualitative Study of the Impact of Violence, Body Shaming, and Self-Harm in Adolescents with a History of Suicide Attempts
Rizk-Hildbrand, M., Semple, T., Preisig, M., Häberling, I. S., Smigielski, L., Pauli, D., Walitza, S., Kleim, B., & Berger, G. E. (2025) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph22060859 · Cited by 12
Cortisol, stress, and cognition in military subpopulations: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Crabb, K. E., Clay, M. T., Pham, U., Chinn, L. K., & Grigorenko, E. L. (2025) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107679 · Cited by 4
Effects of physical activity on motor, communication, social, and executive function in children with autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Li, C., Pan, H., Zhou, T., Li, X., Cui, W., & Li, D. (2025) · European Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1007/s00431-025-06636-1 · Cited by 8
Emotional intelligence training improves stress regulation and performance in high-stress occupations
King, J. B., Li, Y., Gillespie, N. A., & Ashkanasy, N. M. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-026-36216-8 · Cited by 7
Beyond Performance: Cognitive Overload and Related Cognitive, Psychophysiological, and Performance States in Competitive Esports—A Scoping Review
Lachowicz, M., Jamro, D., Zawadka, A., Tomala, Z., & Żurek, G. (2026) · Medical Sciences · doi:10.3390/medsci14030395 · Cited by 5
High-Reliability Organizing (HRO) and Abrupt Change from COVID 19: Failure of Scientific Rationality and Classical Logic
van Stralen, D. (2021) · Neonatology Today · doi:10.51362/neonatology.today/2021616697109 · Cited by 4
Cognitive and structural predictors of novel task learning, and contextual predictors of time series of daily task performance during the learning period
Smith, E. T., Skolasinska, P., Qin, S., Sun, A., Fishwick, P. A., Park, D. C., & Basak, C. (2022) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2022.936528 · Cited by 5
Investigating Ecological Momentary Assessed Physical Activity and Core Executive Functions in 18- to 24-Year-Old Undergraduate Students
Gilmour, A.-M., MacDonald, M. J., Cox, A., Fairclough, S. J., & Tyler, R. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20206944 · Cited by 5
A Novel Computerized Flexible Attention Test in Detecting Executive Dysfunction of Patients with Early-Onset Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Tikkanen, V., Krüger, J., Heikkinen, A.-L., Hänninen, T., Hublin, C., Koivisto, A. M., Virkkala, J., Saari, T. T., Remes, A. M., & Paajanen, T. I. (2024) · Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology · doi:10.1093/arclin/acae026 · Cited by 5
Predictors of young students’ school participation during the early days of COVID-19 remote learning
Johnson, A. D., Castle, S. L., Partika, A. C., & Martin, A. (2024) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107745 · Cited by 4
Perceived impacts of stressful events on train driver performance
Liddell, N. T., Salmon, P. M., Naweed, A., & Read, G. J. M. (2024) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104335 · Cited by 4
Writing about a stressful experience can impair visual working memory
Hunter, C. L., & Shields, G. S. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0304406 · Cited by 4
Self-citation
Childhood adversity is not associated with lowered inhibition, but lower perceptual processing: A Drift Diffusion Model analysis
Vermeent, S., Young, E. S., van Gelder, J., & Frankenhuis, W. E. (2024) · Cognitive Development · doi:10.1016/j.cogdev.2024.101479 · Cited by 4
Siblings of Individuals With Neurodevelopmental Conditions: Perspectives on Risk, Resiliency and Future Research Directions
Wolff, B., Pestell, C., & Glasson, E. J. (2025) · Child & Family Social Work · doi:10.1111/cfs.13256 · Cited by 5
Small pieces make the big picture: the etiology of the relationship between executive functions and personality traits
Nikolašević, Ž., Smederevac, S., Mitrović, D., Čolović, P., Dinić, B. M., Kodžopeljić, J., Prinz, M., Budimlija, Z. M., & Ignjatović, V. B. (2025) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-025-02357-0 · Cited by 7
Multimodal stress assessment: Connecting task-related changes in self-reported stress, salivary biomarkers, heart rate, and facial expressions in the context of the stress response to the Trier Social Stress Test
Ringgold, V., Burkhardt, F., Abel, L., Kurz, M., Müller, V., Richer, R., Eskofier, B. M., Shields, G. S., & Rohleder, N. (2025) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107560 · Cited by 5
Self-citation
Contextualized cognition: Clarifying associations between remote unsupervised performance and clinically relevant contextual factors
Brearly, T. W., Elbich, D., Dhinojwala, M., & Hakun, J. G. (2025) · The Clinical Neuropsychologist · doi:10.1080/13854046.2025.2534720 · Cited by 4
Balancing precision with inclusivity in meta-analyses: A response to Roos and colleagues (2017)
Shields, G. S., & Yonelinas, A. P. (2017) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.11.013 · Cited by 4
Self-citation
‘Titrating’ simulation training intensity
Mileder, L. P. (2018) · The Clinical Teacher · doi:10.1111/tct.12949 · Cited by 4
Acute stress improves analogical reasoning: examining the roles of stress hormones and long-term memory
Smith, A. M., Elliott, G., Hughes, G. I., Feinn, R., & Brunyé, T. T. (2020) · Thinking & Reasoning · doi:10.1080/13546783.2020.1819416 · Cited by 6
Loss-related mental states impair executive functions in a context of sadness
Beaulieu‐Pelletier, G., Bouchard, M., & Philippe, F. L. (2021) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06599 · Cited by 4
Influence of vigilance-related arousal on brain dynamics: Potentials of new approaches
Mäki-Marttunen, V. (2023) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119963 · Cited by 4
Non-linear effects of stress on eyewitness memory
Gering, M., Johnson, T., & Tredoux, C. G. (2023) · South African Journal of Science · doi:10.17159/sajs.2023/12102 · Cited by 4
Acute stress imparts a transient benefit to task-switching that is not modulated following a single bout of exercise
Morava, A., Tari, B., Ahn, J., Shirzad, M., Heath, M. D., & Harry Prapavessis, A. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1157644 · Cited by 4
Effect of stress on spatial working memory and EEG signal dynamics in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in young single girls
Torbaghan, M. E., Moghimi, A., Kobravi, H. R., Fereidoni, M., & Bigdeli, I. (2023) · Brain and Behavior · doi:10.1002/brb3.3166 · Cited by 4
Poor maternal mental health is associated with a low degree of proactive control in refugee children
Gredebäck, G., Lindskog, M., & Hall, J. (2023) · Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology · doi:10.1177/17470218231211573 · Cited by 6
The Role of Anxiety and Prosocial Behaviors on Adherence Behaviors to Prevent COVID-19 in University Students in the United States: Cross-Sectional Study
Corbera, S., & Marín‐Chollom, A. M. (2024) · JMIRx Med · doi:10.2196/52970 · Cited by 4
Context matters: protocol ordering effects on physiological arousal and experienced stress during a simulated driving task
Spencer, C., Moore, D. S., McKeown, G. J., Rutherford, L., & Morrison, G. (2019) · International Conference on Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction and workshops · doi:10.1109/acii.2019.8925485 · Cited by 4
Creativity in Emergency Settings
Bonetto, É., Pavani, J., Dezecache, G., Pichot, N., Guiller, T., Simoni, M., Fointiat, V., & Arciszewski, T. (2022) · Creativity Research Journal · doi:10.1080/10400419.2022.2133865 · Cited by 4
Decision Making in Health Care: Embracing the Real People Comprising the Patient-Doctor Relationship
Ennis, R. D., Corn, B. W., Krug, S., Vapiwala, N., & Hoffe, S. E. (2024) · JCO Oncology Practice · doi:10.1200/op.23.00430 · Cited by 4
Physiological stress responses to digital single- and multitasking demands in younger and older adults
Becker, L., Martin, T., Rohleder, N., Nieding, G., & Wannagat, W. (2025) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107376 · Cited by 3
Executive functions modulate conditioned fear extinction and reinstatement: The differential roles of shifting, updating, and inhibition
Zhang, W., Huang, Y.-X., Mei, Y., Wang, J., Dou, H., & Lei, Y. (2025) · International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.ijchp.2025.100581 · Cited by 3
The impact of different task contexts on emergency responders’ trust and usage intention of artificial intelligence
Zou, X., Rau, P. P., Bai, Z., & Yang, B. (2025) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140139.2025.2499202 · Cited by 4
Prospective Memory Performance of Autistic Adults in Everyday Life: The Role of Stress and Motivation
Faustmann, L. L., & Altgassen, M. (2025) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.70057 · Cited by 3
Assessing the effect of arousal on performance in a virtual reality narrative scenario using biological signals
Archer, D., Li, C. C., Chen, G., Dai, Y., & Steed, A. J. (2025) · Frontiers in Virtual Reality · doi:10.3389/frvir.2025.1458191 · Cited by 3
Longitudinal relationships between academic stress and executive function in Chinese high school students: A cross-lagged panel network analysis
Ma, C., Wang, Y., Fu, J., & Zhao, X. (2025) · Contemporary Educational Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2025.102424 · Cited by 3
Investigating stress and health behaviour relationships in daily life: towards a framework for advancing future research
Inauen, J., Allan, J., Aulbach, M. B., Bamert, M., Blechert, J., Lüthi, S., Powell, D., Ruf, A., & O'Connor, D. B. (2026) · Health Psychology Review · doi:10.1080/17437199.2026.2637421 · Cited by 8
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young children's executive function: A longitudinal, population-based study
Jones, S. M., Dermody, C. M., Mozaffari, A., Acosta, J., & Lesaux, N. K. (2026) · Child Development · doi:10.1093/chidev/aacag003 · Cited by 3
Executive Function and Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Cheek, S. M., Walsh, R. F. L., Barnes, S. E., Hall, T. A. R., Sheehan, A. E., Carosa, C. L., Lindley, A. A., Velotta, S. K., & Liu, R. T. (2026) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2026.05.010 · Cited by 3
Salivary hormone concentrations and technical-tactical performance indicators in beach volleyball: Preliminary evidence
da Costa, Y. P., Domingos-Gomes, J. R., Lautenbach, F., Hayes, L. D., Nakamura, F. Y., de Lima, J. M., Castellano, L. R. C., & Batista, G. R. (2022) · Frontiers in Sports and Active Living · doi:10.3389/fspor.2022.830185 · Cited by 8
Cognitive inflexibility and suicidal ideation among adolescents following hospitalization: The moderating role of life stress
Cheek, S. M., Kudinova, A. Y., Kuzyk, E., Goldston, D. B., & Liu, R. T. (2023) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.075 · Cited by 3
Examining the stress level of autistic people using a smartwatch integrated with the internet of things technology
Moraiti, I. (2023) · World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews · doi:10.30574/wjarr.2023.19.2.1743 · Cited by 3
Validity and effectiveness of interrogation techniques: A meta-analytic review
Tribbels, S., & Michels, M. (2024) · Military Psychology · doi:10.1080/08995605.2024.2324622 · Cited by 3
Stressors and Subjective Cognition in Daily Life: Tests of Physical Activity and Age as Moderators
Stuart, N. S., Wen, J., Klaiber, P., Puterman, E. M., DeLongis, A., & Sin, N. L. (2024) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/psy.0000000000001338 · Cited by 3
Acute stress and blockade of mineralocorticoid or glucocorticoid receptors: Effects on working memory
Deuter, C. E., Sommerfeld, J., Kuehl, L. K., Otte, C., & Wingenfeld, K. (2024) · Neurobiology of Learning and Memory · doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2024.107986 · Cited by 3
Examining the applicability of virtual battle space for stress management training in military personnel—A validation study
Schilder, F. P. M., Withagen, F. M., de Weijer, A. D., Bruinsma, B., & Geuze, E. (2024) · Stress and Health · doi:10.1002/smi.3475 · Cited by 3
Development of a checklist for cognitive assessment requirements (CARE) based on a Delphi consensus study
Nejati, V., Estaji, R., Balanzá‐Martínez, V., Balota, D. A., Barker-Collo, S. L., Bell, M. D., Berry, J. H., Borhani, K., Cullum, C. M., Feinstein, A., et al. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-87380-2 · Cited by 3
High-frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation over the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Can Improve Attentional Control Under Stress: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence
Qi, M., Gai, R., Jing, J., & Gao, H. (2025) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn_a_02319 · Cited by 5
Salivary Biosensing Opportunities for Predicting Cognitive and Physical Human Performance
Goring, S. A., Gray, E. D., Miller, E. L., & Brunyé, T. T. (2025) · Biosensors · doi:10.3390/bios15070418 · Cited by 3
Intervention effect of a single exercise session on executive function in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a three-level meta-analysis
Zhao, L., Lu, H., Yang, Q., & Zhang, D. (2025) · BMC Pediatrics · doi:10.1186/s12887-025-05846-8 · Cited by 5
The effects of perceived chronic stress on the fMRI correlates of attentional control in women managers
Portes, B., Balardin, J. B., Lacerda, S. S., Pires, F. B. C., Tobo, P. R., Barrichello, C., Peterson, J., Sanches, L. R., Sanches, L. G., Amaro, E., et al. (2018) · Archives of Women s Mental Health · doi:10.1007/s00737-018-0902-6 · Cited by 3
Paradoxical effect of cumulative stress exposure on information processing speed in Hispanics/Latinos with elevated heart rate variability
McIntosh, R. C., Khambaty, T., Llabre, M. M., Perreira, K. M., González, H. M., Kansal, M. M., Tarraf, W., & Schneiderman, N. (2021) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.01.019 · Cited by 3
Development of Executive Function Skills in Childhood
Happaney, K. R., & Zelazo, P. D. (2022) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108399838.023 · Cited by 11
Emotion-related impulsivity: Testing a model of arousal effects on cognitive control
Pearlstein, J. G., Johnson, S. L., Madole, J. W., & Modavi, K. (2022) · Brain and Neuroscience Advances · doi:10.1177/23982128221079572 · Cited by 3
Neural correlates of cognitive control in women with a history of sexual violence suggest altered prefrontal cortical activity during cognitive processing
Šinko, L., Regier, P. S., Curtin, A., Ayaz, H., Childress, A. R., & Teitelman, A. M. (2022) · Women s Health · doi:10.1177/17455057221081326 · Cited by 4
Respiration rate during a stress task moderates neuroticism and perceived stress in older adults
Kaplan, J., Klee, D., & Oken, B. (2022) · Current Issues in Personality Psychology · doi:10.5114/cipp.2022.114143 · Cited by 3
Relating psychiatric symptoms and self-regulation during the COVID-19 crisis
Vaghi, M. M. S., Hagen, M. P., Jones, H. M., Mumford, J. A., Bissett, P. G., & Poldrack, R. A. (2022) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-022-02030-9 · Cited by 3
The Effects of Type III Traumatic Stressors of the Protracted Conflict and Prolonged COVID-19 on Syrians Internally Displaced
Kira, I. A., Aljakoub, J., Ibraheem, B. A., & Shuwiekh, H. A. M. (2022) · International Perspectives in Psychology · doi:10.1027/2157-3891/a000054 · Cited by 3
Stress-induced impairment reveals the stage and features of post-error adaptive adjustment
Hu, N., Long, Q., Zhang, D., Wang, X., Deng, M., Li, Q., Yan, M., & Chen, A. (2022) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1013170 · Cited by 3
Exploring the relationship between suicide vulnerability, impulsivity and executive functioning during COVID-19: A longitudinal analysis
Rogerson, O., Prudenzi, A., & O'Connor, D. B. (2022) · Psychiatry Research Communications · doi:10.1016/j.psycom.2022.100088 · Cited by 3
The Differential Impact of Different COVID-19 Stressors on Complex PTSD, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, and Executive Functions in Kuwait
Alhuwailah, A., Shuwiekh, H. A. M., & Kira, I. A. (2023) · International Perspectives in Psychology · doi:10.1027/2157-3891/a000068 · Cited by 3
Decision-Making and Risk-Propensity Changes during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown
Zivi, P., Sdoia, S., Alfonsi, V., Gorgoni, M., Mari, E., Quaglieri, A., Gennaro, L. D., Giannini, A. M., & Ferlazzo, F. (2023) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci13050793 · Cited by 3
Writing about a stressful experience improves semantic clustering of memory in men, not women
Hunter, C. L., Gray, Z. J., Trudell, E. V., Kennedy, L. D., & Shields, G. S. (2023) · Stress and Health · doi:10.1002/smi.3272 · Cited by 3
Self-citation
Modern health worries and annoyance from environmental factors are largely unrelated to smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity
Köteles, F. G., Szemerszky, R., Petrie, K. J., & Nordin, S. (2023) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111417 · Cited by 4
Household Income and Early Adolescents’ Executive Function: The Different Roles of Perceived Discrimination and Shift-and-Persist
Zhang, J., Mei, K., Deng, Y., Ren, Y., & Huang, S. (2023) · Journal of Youth and Adolescence · doi:10.1007/s10964-023-01851-1 · Cited by 4
Acute stress impacts reaction times in older but not in young adults in a flanker task
Mikneviciute, G., Allaert, J., Pulopulos, M. M., Raedt, R. D., Kliegel, M., & Ballhausen, N. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-44356-4 · Cited by 5
A multimodal study of the interplay between stress, executive function, and biometrics in game-based assessment
Albaladejo‐González, M., Marco, R. G., Tsai, N., Mármol, F. G., & Ruipérez‐Valiente, J. A. (2023) · Expert Systems with Applications · doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2023.122864 · Cited by 6
Structural Relationship among Children’s Academic Stress, Grit, Executive Function Difficulty, and Media Device Addiction
Kong, Y., & Lim, J.-Y. (2021) · Family and environment research · doi:10.6115/fer.2021.028 · Cited by 5
Investigating Cortical Buffering Effects of Acute Moderate Intensity Exercise: A cTBS Study Targeting the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex
Manocchio, F., & Lowe, C. J. (2021) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.645326 · Cited by 3
Response inhibition and memory updating in the count/nocount task: an ERP study
Zhang, Z., Jing, J., Qi, M., & Gao, H. (2021) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-021-06213-6 · Cited by 3
Stress-Induced Metabolic Disorders: Mechanisms, Pathologies, and ProspectsPreprint
Zhang, W.-Z. (2025) · Preprints.org · doi:10.20944/preprints202504.1086.v1 · Cited by 2
Prosociality increases under stress: Evidence from different types of prosocial preferences
Qun, Y. A. N. G., Bing, Z. H. U., Yiming, Y. U., ZHANG, J., & Mengmeng, X. U. E. (2022) · Advances in Psychological Science · doi:10.3724/sp.j.1042.2022.02809 · Cited by 2
Acute stress and human spatial working memory strategy use
Husa, R. A., Buchanan, T. W., & Kirchhoff, B. A. (2022) · Stress · doi:10.1080/10253890.2022.2155046 · Cited by 2
Neuroendocrine response to a psychosocial stress test is not related to schizotypy but cortisol elevation predicts inflexibility of semantic memory retrieval
Hrivikova, K., Marko, M., Karailievova, L., Romanova, Z., Oravcová, H., Riečanský, I., & Ježová, D. (2023) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106287 · Cited by 3
Media Multitasking Scores and Media Use Hours: A Comparison Across the Standard Stroop Task and an Emotional Stroop Task
Murphy, K. A., Shin, M., & Stainer, M. J. (2024) · Media Psychology · doi:10.1080/15213269.2024.2338115 · Cited by 2
Assessment of Changes in Executive Functions and Attention of Cadets as a Result of Military Parachute Jumping
Jamro, D., Kociuba, M., Lachowicz, M., Korytko, P., & Żurek, G. (2025) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci15010085 · Cited by 4
Do emotionally negative events impair working memory as a result of intrusive thoughts?
Chouinard-Gaouette, L., & Blanchette, I. (2025) · Memory · doi:10.1080/09658211.2025.2461153 · Cited by 2
Physical capacity is associated with attention but not with general executive function in middle aged adults
Iktilat, K., Isaacson, M., Tzemah-Shahar, R., & Agmon, M. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0321450 · Cited by 2
Associations of chronic stress and social support with cognition: The role of gender and race/ethnicity in the HABS-HD study cohort
Lee, J. K., Johnson, L. A., Hall, J. R., Bateman, J. R., O’Bryant, S. E., & Mielke, M. M. (2025) · Journal of Alzheimer s Disease · doi:10.1177/13872877251352110 · Cited by 4

Authors: Shields, G. S., Sazma, M. A., & Yonelinas, A. P.
Affiliations: University of California, Davis (US)
Corresponding author: Shields, Grant S.
ORCID: Shields, Grant S.
Sazma, Matthew A.
Yonelinas, Andrew P.
Venue: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2016-09
Volume: 68
Pages: 651-668
ISSN: 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.038
PMC: PMC5003767
OpenAlex: W2462050595
Cited by: 818
References: 89
Citations by year: 2026: 146 · 2025: 105 · 2024: 95 · 2023: 92 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 92 · 2020: 77 · 2019: 67 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 1
FWCI: 4.80
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders: National Institutes of Health (MH059352, EY025999)
National Eye Institute (MH059352, EY025999)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Keywords: acute stress, executive function, working memory, cognitive flexibility, response inhibition, interference control, cortisol, sex differences, stress effects on cognition
MeSH terms: Humans, Hydrocortisone, Inhibition, Psychological, Memory, Short-Term, Executive Function

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

The effects of acute stress on core executive functions: A meta-analysis and comparison with cortisol

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Self-check

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks