The Effects of Physiological Stress on Learning Instructional Materials

Abstract

Psychophysiological studies have shown that stress can both enhance and impair learning. However, there is not enough research on the effects of stress on learning ecologically valid materials. Considering this need, the goal of the current study is to examine the effects of physiological stress on learning instructional materials. Thirty-eight healthy participants held their hands in either ice-cold water (cold pressor stress group) or warm water (control group) for three minutes after studying the instructional material. Learning was assessed by recall and recognition tests given on the following day. The results showed that physiological stress impaired recall but did not affect recognition, suggesting that extreme stress levels had a detrimental effect on learning tests that rely on self-initiated cues.