Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The current study compared infant cortisol responses during the still-face procedure with those shown during other parent-infant interactions. It also examined how stress hormones can affect memory retention. Six-month-old infants (n = 38) were exposed to either a repeated still-face procedure, normal face-to-face interaction, or a divided-attention task. Salivary cortisol was collected at multiple time points. Infants were assigned to a memory demonstration (n = 30) or a no-demonstration (n = 8) group. Infants in the demonstration group were shown 3 target actions with a puppet, and subsequently given a chance to repeat the target actions. Infants in the no demonstration group were not shown the target actions. Only the infants who experienced the still-face procedure showed a significant change in salivary cortisol throughout the procedure. Cortisol values did not significantly predict memory performance. There are still many questions regarding how stress induction during memory consolidation affects memory performance.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Jennifer Cordick
Language: English
Subfield: Behavioral Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2625236303