Cortisol and Verbal Memory Research

Questions and Answers

What was the primary finding regarding the relationship between cortisol and memory recall?

Cortisol levels have no effect on memory recall.

High levels of cortisol enhance memory recall.

Memory recall improves with low-dose cortisol.

High levels of cortisol interfere with memory recall. (correct)

What did the researchers conclude about the differences in performance between the low-dose and placebo groups?

The low-dose group performed significantly worse than the placebo group.

The placebo group performed consistently better on all testing days.

There was no statistical difference between the low-dose and placebo groups. (correct)

The low-dose group had better memory recall than the high-dose group.

What was a limitation of the study regarding extraneous variables?

Participants were not in the lab continuously during the experiment. (correct)

The researchers did not use a control group.

The same text was used for all testing days.

Participants were only tested once.

What ethical consideration was mentioned regarding the participants in the study?

The cognitive effects of cortisol were reversible and agreed upon in the consent form. Signup and view all the answers

What factor did the researchers control to ensure it did not affect recall performance?

The order of text presentations across testing days. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of the research conducted at Washington University Medical Center?

To determine the impact of cortisol on verbal declarative memory Signup and view all the answers

Which group was given a daily dosage of 160 mg of cortisol during the experiment?

High cortisol group Signup and view all the answers

What was the condition imposed on participants before being included in the study?

They should not have experienced head trauma Signup and view all the answers

How many times were participants tested throughout the study?

Three times Signup and view all the answers

What did the results indicate regarding the high cortisol levels and memory performance?

High cortisol levels reduced performance in memory tasks Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions had participants taking a placebo tablet?

Condition 3 Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of testing the participants again six days later?

To assess long-term effects of cortisol treatment Signup and view all the answers

What criteria were participants matched for in the study?

Age and gender Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Research Objective

Investigate the impact of high cortisol levels on verbal declarative memory.

Participants

Sample included employees and students from Washington University Medical Center.
Excluded individuals: pregnant women, those with mental illness history, head trauma, or corticosteroid treatment.

Experimental Design

Double-blind laboratory experiment.
Participants matched for age and gender across three conditions.

Conditions

Condition 1 – High Cortisol: Participants received 160 mg of cortisol daily, simulating blood levels during major stress events.
Condition 2 – Low Cortisol: Participants received 40 mg of cortisol daily, similar to levels in individuals undergoing minor surgical procedures.
Condition 3 – Placebo: Participants received placebo tablets with no active ingredient, serving as a control group.

Memory Task

Participants listened to and recalled a different prose paragraph each day, tested three times.
Baseline test conducted before cortisol administration to control for individual differences.

Testing Schedule

Tests conducted on baseline, one day post-treatment, four days post-treatment, and again six days later to assess long-term effects.

Findings

No significant differences in baseline performance between groups.
High cortisol levels impaired memory; participants with the highest cortisol showed poorest recall.
Memory performance returned to normal after cessation of cortisol intake, indicating non-permanence of the effect.
No statistical differences between low-dose and placebo groups; both showed increased performance likely due to practice effects.

Evaluation

Experimental nature established a cause-and-effect relationship between cortisol levels (independent variable) and memory performance (dependent variable).
Baseline testing mitigated confounding variables related to individual differences.
Limited control over extraneous variables due to multi-day design; participants might experience personal stressors.
Counterbalancing used to ensure text difficulty did not interfere with recall results.
Concerns over authenticity of memorizing prose for memory assessment and limited generalizability to real-world stressful situations.
Ethical considerations included potential negative effects of cortisol, mitigated by informed consent and non-permanency of damage.

Description

This quiz explores the research investigating the impact of cortisol, a stress hormone, on verbal declarative memory. Participants included employees and students at Washington University Medical Center, with specific exclusion criteria for mental and physical health. Test your understanding of the study's design and findings.