Revista Colombiana de Psicología (Dec 2013)
Efecto de la Exposición a un Protocolo de Estrés Social Agudo sobre los Niveles Sistémicos de Cortisol y la Ejecución de una Tarea de Atención Sostenida y Dividida
Abstract
This research project examined the effects of acute social stress induced experimentally with a modified version of TSST (Trier Social Stress Test) on the systemic levels of the cortisol hormone and on the execution of a sustained and divided attention task, in male and female university students. Results showed that the modified TSST protocol caused increases in the systemic levels of cortisol in male participants, but did not affect the execution of the PASAT (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task). The results are discussed in the light of previous studies in which gender differences in the effects of stress are observed.