Human sensory processing under acute psychosocial stress : neurophysiological correlates
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Date
2021
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Abstract
The acute state of stress can alter some sensory systems by modifying the sensitivity and specificity of sensory processing. Limbic areas, like the amygdala and locus coeruleus, may have a fundamental role in this process. Most studies on sensory processing and stress, focus on pathological states or use non-social threats as stimuli. Such designs may allow the influence of unwanted variables, such as the use of drugs or the decreased response of the L-HPA axis towards the stressor. In this sense, studies that use stimuli that represent social threats and that consider both; the cognitive/behavioral performance and the neural correlates of stress, will contribute to a better understanding of this prevalent and common condition. This research is intended to take advantage of the temporal resolution afforded by ERPs to characterize the impact of psychosocial stress on early stages of processing associated with levels of sensory sensitivity, and on late stages of processing related with task-directed cognition. It could show if psychosocial stress dissimilarly affects different processing stages. Simultaneous measures of cortisol levels, heart rate, pupillary dilation response and electroencephalogram were recorded to characterize sensory sensitivity and task-directed cognition under different levels of stress. Participants resolved an auditory oddball task before and after a lab controlled acute psychosocial stress. This project provides novel information for understanding how acute psychosocial stress can modulate sensory processing in everyday life and will contribute to understanding the neurobiology of stress-cognitive disorders.
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Tesis (Doctor en Neurociencias)--Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2021