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Cognitive Performance and Morning Levels of Salivary Cortisol and α-Amylase in Children Reporting High vs. Low Daily Stress Perception

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Enrique F. Maldonado ,
Francisco J. Fernandez ,
M. Victoria Trianes ,
Keith Wesnes ,
Orlando Petrini ,
Andrea Zangara ,
Alfredo Enguix  and
Lara Ambrosetti
Enrique F. Maldonado*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Málaga, Spain
Francisco J. Fernandez
Affiliation:
Universidad de Málaga, Spain
M. Victoria Trianes
Affiliation:
Universidad de Málaga, Spain
Keith Wesnes
Affiliation:
Northumbria University, UK Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) Ltd, Goring-on-Times, UK
Orlando Petrini
Affiliation:
Pharmaton SA, Switzerland
Andrea Zangara
Affiliation:
Northumbria University, UK
Alfredo Enguix
Affiliation:
Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain
Lara Ambrosetti
Affiliation:
Pharmaton SA, Switzerland
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Dr. Enrique F. Maldonado, Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of the Behavioural Sciences, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Teatinos, C.P. 29071 Malaga (Spain), Phone: +34 952 133476. Fax: +34 952 132621. E-mail: fcomm@uma.es
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of daily stress perception on cognitive performance and morning basal salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels in healthy children aged 9–12. Participants were classified by whether they had low daily perceived stress (LPS, n = 27) or a high daily perceived stress (HPS, n = 26) using the Children Daily Stress Inventory (CDSI). Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase were measured at awakening and 30 minutes later. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Cognitive Drug Research assessment system. The HPS group exhibited significantly poorer scores on speed of memory (p < .05) and continuity of attention (p < .05) relative to the LPS group. The HPS group also showed significantly lower morning cortisol levels at awakening and at +30 minutes measures in comparison with the LPS group (p < .05), and mean morning cortisol levels were negatively correlated with speed of memory (p < .05) in the 53 participants. No significant differences were observed between both groups in alpha-amylase levels. These findings suggest that daily perceived stress in children may impoverish cognitive performance via its modulating effects on the HPA axis activity.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar los efectos de la percepción de estrés diario sobre el rendimiento cognitivo y los niveles matutinos basales de cortisol y alfa-amilasa salivar en niños sanos de edades entre los 9 y los 12 años. Los participantes fueron clasificados en función de si su nivel de percepción de estrés diario era bajo (LPS, n = 27) o alto (HPS, n = 26), empleando el Children Daily Stress Inventory (CDSI). Se midió el cortisol y la alfa-amilasa salivar al despertar y 30 minutos más tarde. El rendimiento cognitivo se evaluó mediante el sistema de evaluación Cognitive Drug Research. El grupo HPS obtuvo puntuaciones significativamente más bajas en velocidad de memoria (p < .05) y continuidad de la atención (p < .05) con respecto al grupo LPS. El grupo HPS también mostró niveles significativamente más bajos de cortisol matutino al despertar y a los 30 minutos en comparación con el grupo LPS (p < .05), y sus niveles medios de cortisol matutino correlacionaron negativamente con la velocidad de la memoria (p < .05) en los 53 participantes. No se observaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos en los niveles de alfa-amilasa. Estos resultados sugieren que la percepción de estrés diario en niños puede disminuir su ejecución cognitiva a través de sus efectos moduladores en la actividad del eje HPA.

Keywords

childrenself-perceived stresssalivary cortisolsalivary alpha-amylasecognitionniñosestrés auto-percibidocortisol salivaralfa-amilasa salivarcognición
Type
Articles
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , May 2008 , pp. 3 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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