Impact of Pregnancy Cortisol Levels on High and Low Working Memory Capa

PROJECT commentImpact of Pregnancy hydrocortisone Levels on High and hapless working(a) Memory Capacity The damage baby brain and maternal blackout atomic number 18 informally apply to describe the perceived store harm and inattentiveness many women discipline ache during motherliness (Cuttler, Graf, Pawluski & Galea, 2010). Previous studies take aim hinted that this perceived store loss may be associated with temporary enervation of working memory efficacy (WMC) (Casey, 2000).In 1971, Marian Diamond and collegues did vast research on large(predicate) and non-pregnant rats and demonstrated for the first time that motherliness reshapes the brain (Diamond, Johnson & Ingham, 1971). Their findings suggest that pregnancy in rats increases dendritic spine dumbness in areas of the brain that grade learning and memory as easy as areas involved in control of fear and anxiety.During stressful situations, sympathomimetic activation prompts secretion of epinephrin by the sympathetic nervous system (Elzinga & Roelofs, 2005). The hormone cortisol is do by the adrenal glands and is too all-important(a) in response to stressful situations. When adrenergic activity and cortisol levels are concordantly increased, working memory impairments proceed. passim the third trimester of pregnancy, cortisol reaches levels consistent with those seen in Cushings syndrome (Glynn, 2010). Cushings syndrome is delimitate by excess cortisol levels scatter by the adrenal glands as a result of a neoplasm or medication (Margulies, Voto, Fescina, Lastra, Lapidus & Schwarez 1987). Individuals suffering from Cushings syndrome experience a massive range of symptoms, one of which is a decrease in working memory. running(a) memory (WM) is a a priori structure referring to an ind... ...10). Literature associating endocrine exposures during gestation period and changes in memory function, agree that women with lower levels of cortisol display poorer comm unicative recall memory military operation (Glynn, 2010). However, performance on working memory tasks did not differ amongst pregnant and non-pregnant participants. The contradictory evidence pertaining to the encroachment of cortisol on memory suggests that further study is needed to regard its effects.Working Memoryattentional ControlMeasures of performance on tests of WM suggest that WMC increases continually between other(a) childhood and adolescence (West, 1996). Empirical studies have also supported that WM is among one of the cognitive functions most sensitive to decline in old age. West (1996) theorized that the declines in WM as we age is due for the most part to the deterioration of the pre-frontal cortex. Impact of Pregnancy Cortisol Levels on High and Low Working Memory CapaPROJECT DESCRIPTIONImpact of Pregnancy Cortisol Levels on High and Low Working Memory Capacity The terms baby brain and maternal amnesia are informally used to describe the perceived memory loss and inattentiveness many women report suffering during pregnancy (Cuttler, Graf, Pawluski & Galea, 2010). Previous studies have suggested that this perceived memory loss may be associated with temporary exhaustion of working memory capacity (WMC) (Casey, 2000).In 1971, Marian Diamond and collegues did extensive research on pregnant and non-pregnant rats and demonstrated for the first time that pregnancy reshapes the brain (Diamond, Johnson & Ingham, 1971). Their findings suggest that pregnancy in rats increases dendritic spine density in areas of the brain that regulate learning and memory as well as areas involved in control of fear and anxiety.During stressful situations, adrenergic activation prompts secretion of epinephrine by the sympathetic nervous system (Elzinga & Roelofs, 2005). The hormone cortisol is made by the adrenal glands and is also essential in response to stressful situations. When adrenergic activity and cortisol levels are concordantly inc reased, working memory impairments proceed.Throughout the third trimester of pregnancy, cortisol reaches levels consistent with those seen in Cushings syndrome (Glynn, 2010). Cushings syndrome is defined by excess cortisol levels dispersed by the adrenal glands as a result of a tumor or medication (Margulies, Voto, Fescina, Lastra, Lapidus & Schwarez 1987). Individuals suffering from Cushings syndrome experience a wide range of symptoms, one of which is a decrease in working memory. Working memory (WM) is a theoretical structure referring to an ind... ...10). Literature associating endocrine exposures during gestation and changes in memory function, support that women with lower levels of cortisol display poorer verbal recall memory performance (Glynn, 2010). However, performance on working memory tasks did not differ between pregnant and non-pregnant participants. The contradictory evidence pertaining to the impact of cortisol on memory suggests that further study is neede d to understand its effects.Working MemoryAttentional ControlMeasures of performance on tests of WM suggest that WMC increases continually between early childhood and adolescence (West, 1996). Empirical studies have also supported that WM is among one of the cognitive functions most sensitive to decline in old age. West (1996) theorized that the declines in WM as we age is due largely to the deterioration of the pre-frontal cortex.