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Chronic work stress and decreased vagal tone impairs decision making and reaction time in jockeys
journal contribution
posted on 2017-10-01, 00:00 authored by K Landolt, P Maruff, Ben HoranBen Horan, M Kingsley, G Kinsella, P D O'Halloran, M W Hale, B J WrightThe inverse relationship between acute stress and decision-making is well documented, but few studies have investigated the impact of chronic stress. Jockeys work exhaustive schedules and have extremely dangerous occupations, with safe performance requiring quick reaction time and accurate decision-making. We used the effort reward imbalance (ERI) occupational stress model to assess the relationship of work stress with indices of stress physiology and decision-making and reaction time. Jockeys (N=32) completed computerised cognitive tasks (Cogstate) on two occasions; September and November (naturally occurring lower and higher stress periods), either side of an acute stress test. Higher ERI was correlated with the cortisol awakening responses (high stress r=-0.37; low stress r=0.36), and with decrements in decision-making comparable to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 in the high stress period (p<0.001) The LF/HF ratio of heart rate variability impacted the association of ERI with decision-making. Potentially, this may be attributed to a 'tipping point' whereby the higher ERI reported by jockeys in the high stress period decreases vagal tone, which may contribute to reduced decision-making abilities.
History
Journal
PsychoneuroendocrinologyVolume
84Pagination
151 - 158Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
0306-4530eISSN
1873-3360Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2017, ElsevierUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
CARDecision-makingERILF\/HF HRVReaction timesAA-ARScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEndocrinology & MetabolismNeurosciencesPsychiatryNeurosciences & NeurologySALIVARY ALPHA-AMYLASEEFFORT-REWARD IMBALANCEHEART-RATE-VARIABILITYAWAKENING RESPONSECORTISOL-LEVELSBURNOUTINJURYASSOCIATIONSSENSITIVITYPERFORMANCE
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