Key result
Acute stress induced by the cold pressor task significantly attenuated cognitive flexibility in males, who showed a smaller reduction in perseverative errors compared to controls (interaction p=0.001).
Why the study?
Does acute stress induction using the cold pressor test reduce cognitive flexibility in college-aged individuals?
Population
171 college-aged individuals across two studies, predominantly White, recruited from a university setting.
Comparison
Acute stress induction using the cold pressor… vs Sham cold pressor test, placing the non-dominant…
Design
RCT, Randomly assigned to either the Stress or the Control condition
Follow-up
Approximately 10 minutes following stress exposure
Authors
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Acute stress may impair cognitive flexibility in males; leaves open gender-moderated effects on executive function pending larger trials.
RCT (n=171)
Randomized
No
Does acute stress induction using the cold pressor test reduce cognitive flexibility in college-aged individuals?
Effect estimate: η2p = 0.15
Absolute Event Rate: 0.78% vs 2.55%
p-value: p=0.001
Acute physiological stress induced by the cold pressor test attenuates cognitive flexibility in males, but not females, as evidenced by increased perseverative errors.
Kalia et al. (2018) conducted an RCT in Healthy (n=171). Cold Pressor Task (CPT) vs. Sham CPT (room-temperature water) was evaluated on Change in perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in males (η2p = 0.15, p=0.001). Acute stress induced by the cold pressor task significantly attenuated cognitive flexibility in males, who showed a smaller reduction in perseverative errors compared to controls (interaction p=0.001).
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