Hydrocortisone decreases metacognitive efficiency independent of perceived stress

Journal
Scientific Reports
ISSN
2045-2322
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Franco Medina
Carolina Manosalva
Vincent de Gardelle
Jérôme Sackur
Type
Resource Types::text::journal::journal article
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85089776645
WoS ID
WOS:000568833100016
DOI
URL
URL Institutional Repository
Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>It is well established that acute stress produces negative effects on high level cognitive functions. However, these effects could be due to the physiological components of the stress response (among which cortisol secretion is prominent), to its psychological concomitants (the thoughts generated by the stressor) or to any combination of those. Our study shows for the first time that the typical cortisol response to stress is sufficient to impair metacognition, that is the ability to monitor one’s own performance in a task. In a pharmacological protocol, we administered either 20 mg hydrocortisone or placebo to 46 male participants, and measured their subjective perception of stress, their performance in a perceptual task, and their metacognitive ability. We found that hydrocortisone selectively impaired metacognitive ability, without affecting task performance or creating a subjective state of stress. In other words, the single physiological response of stress produces a net effect on metacognition. These results inform our basic understanding of the physiological bases of metacognition. They are also relevant for applied or clinical research about situations involving stress, anxiety, depression, or simply cortisol use.</jats:p>
Project(s)
Dataset(s)
Subjects
adult

; 

anti-inflammatory agents

; 

humans

; 

hydrocortisone

; 

male

; 

metacognition

; 

motor skills

; 

perception

; 

self concept

; 

stress, psychological

; 

surveys and questionnaires

; 

task performance and analysis

; 

young adult

; 

antiinflammatory agent

; 

hydrocortisone

; 

adult

; 

drug effect

; 

human

; 

male

; 

mental stress

; 

metacognition

; 

motor performance

; 

perception

; 

physiology

; 

questionnaire

; 

self concept

; 

task performance

; 

young adult