B5

Modulation of self-control by acute and chronic stress

In previous funding periods, project B5 investigated effects of acute social stress (first funding period) and chronic stress (second funding period) on basic cognitive control functions (e.g., response inhibition, task switching). In the third funding period, we shift our focus to the question how acute stress modulates cognitive and neural mechanisms mediating goal-directed (outcome-based) action and self-control, i.e., the ability to resist temptation in order to render behavior consistent with long-term goals and anticipated future outcomes. In addition, we explore whether and how chronic stress affects the impact of acute stress on self-control. Project B5 combines a validated stress induction protocol (the Trier Social Stress Test) with task paradigms that have been successfully used in projects A2, A6 and C1 to investigate (1) how acute stress modulates anticipations of long-term outcomes during self-controlled decision-making and anticipations of short-term action outcomes in goal-directed action, and (2) whether these effects are mediated by stress-induced changes in brain networks mediating cognitive control, outcome anticipation, and valuation. In addition, markers of chronic stress (self-report and hair cortisol) are be obtained as potential moderators of acute stress effects.

Project Members

Principal Investigators

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Clemens Kirschbaum
Professor (W3)
Phone: +49 (0)351 463-39660
E-Mail:

Dr. rer. nat. Katharina Zwosta Postdoctoral Researcher Phone: +49 (0)351 463-34507
E-Mail:

Research Staff

Staff members

M.Sc. Jasmin Stein Doctoral Researcher Phone: +49 (0)351 463-41155
E-Mail:

Past members

Dr. Robert Miller Doctoral researcher
Phone: +49 (0)351 463-39470
E-Mail:

Prof. Dr. Sören Enge
Professor
Phone: +49 (0)30 / 76 68 37 53-466
E-Mail:

Dr. rer. nat. Franziska Plessow
Past: PI B5, Now: Instructor in Medicine
E-Mail:

Dr. rer.nat. Lisa Weckesser
Research Associate (Postdoc)
Phone: +49 (0)351 463-33708
E-Mail:

Publications

*shared first authorship

Weckesser, L. J., Dietz, F., Schmidt, K., Grass, J., Kirschbaum, C., & Miller, R. (2019). The psychometric properties and temporal dynamics of subjective stress, retrospectively assessed by different informants and questionnaires, and hair cortisol concentrations. Scientific Reports, 9(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-37526-2
Wekenborg, M. K., Hill, L. K., Miller, R., Stalder, T., Thayer, J. F., Sophie Penz, M., & Kirschbaum, C. (2018). Reduced self-regulation mirrors the distorting effects of burnout symptomatology on task difficulty perception during an inhibition task. Stress, 21(6), 511-519. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10253890.2018.1479393
Sach*, M., Enge*, S., Strobel, A., & Fleischhauer, M. (2018). MPQ Control (versus impulsivity) and need for cognition–relationship to behavioral inhibition and corresponding ERPs in a go/no-go task. Personality and Individual Differences, 121, 200-205. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.005
Miller, R., Scherbaum, S., Heck, D. W., Goschke, T., & Enge, S. (2018). On the relation between the (censored) shifted wald and the wiener distribution as measurement models for choice response times. Applied Psychological Measurement, 42(2), 116–135. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0146621617710465
Miller, R., Schmidt, K., Kirschbaum, C. & Enge, S. (2018). Comparability, stability, and reliability of internet-based mental chronometry in domestic and laboratory settings. Behavior Research Methods, 50(4), 1345-1358. doi:10.3758/s13428-018-1036-5
Miller, R., Wojtyniak, J., Weckesser, L. J., Alexander, N. C., Engert, V., & Lehr, T. (2018). How to disentangle psychobiological stress reactivity and recovery: A comparison of model-based and non-compartmental analyses of cortisol concentrations. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 90, 194-210. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.12.019
Enge, S., Mothes, H., Fleischhauer, M., Reif, A., & Strobel, A. (2017). Genetic variation of dopamine and serotonin function modulates the feedback-related negativity during altruistic punishment. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 1-12. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02594-3
Stalder, T., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Alexander, N., Klucken, T., Vater, A., Wichmann, S., . . . & Miller, R. (2017). Stress-related and basic determinants of hair cortisol in humans: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 77, 261-274. doi:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.12.017
Weckesser, L. J., Enge, S., Riedel, P., Kirschbaum, C., & Miller, R. (2017). NMDA receptor modulation by dextromethorphan and acute stress selectively alters electroencephalographic indicators of partial report processing. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 27(10), 1042-1053. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2017.07.003
Weckesser, L. J., Alexander, N. C., Kirschbaum, C., Mennigen, E., & Miller, R. (2016). Hydrocortisone counteracts adverse stress effects on dual-task performance by improving visual sensory processes. Journal of cognitive neuroscience, 28(11), 1784-1803. doi:https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01006
Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Stalder, T., Kirschbaum, C., Weber, F., Hoyer, J., & Plessow, F. (2014). Trauma exposure is associated with increased content-dependent adjustments of cognitive control in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and healthy controls. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 14(4), 1310-1319. doi:10.3758/s13415-014-0299-2
Weckesser, L. J., Plessow, F., Pilhatsch, M., Muehlhan, M., Kirschbaum, C., & Miller, R. (2014). Do venepuncture procedures induce cortisol responses? A review, study, and synthesis for stress research. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 46, 88-99. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.04.012
Walser, M., Fischer, R., Goschke, T., Kirschbaum, C., & Plessow, F. (2013). Intention retrieval and deactivation following an acute psychosocial stressor. PLoS ONE, 8(12), e85685. https://10.1371/journal.pone.0085685

B5