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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

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Shields, Grant S., Sazma, Matthew A., Yonelinas, Andrew P.·2016·Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
DOI 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.038PMC PMC5003767
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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.

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Metadata

Authors
Shields, G. S., Sazma, M. A., & Yonelinas, A. P.
Affiliations
University of California, Davis (US)
Corresponding author
Shields, Grant S.
ORCID
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
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

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