Sanyx Update: Cortisol, Stress and Decision Making

Can stress and cortisol levels affect how well we make decisions?

You bet.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Granada Group of Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychoneuroimmunology demonstrated that cortisol levels in saliva are associated with a person's ability to make good decisions in stressful situations. Low levels mean less psychological stress and ultimately better thinking.

The University of Granada researchers evaluated the decision-making process in 40 healthy women. Participants were asked to perform the so-called Iowa Gambling Task. Next, they were presented with a stressful situation in a virtual environment (delivering a speech). Researchers evaluated the participants' response to stress by measuring cortisol levels in saliva at different points of the stressful situation.

Professors Isabel Peralta and Ana Santos state that this study provides preliminary evidence on an existing relationship between decision-making ability… which may play a major role in coping with stress- and low cortisol levels in psychosocially stressful situations.

This means that the effects of psychological stress on the health people with lower cortisol levels might be milder.