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Frontal EEG asymmetry has been proposed as an index of emotional regulation, reflecting both state and trait components, and there is evidence that these factors influence the cortisol response to stress. Here, we asked whether cold pressor stress modulates frontal asymmetry and whether this is predictive of the neuroendocrine stress response. Twenty-four male participants underwent an automatized bilateral feet cold pressor test (bfCPT) and a warm water control procedure in counterbalanced order on two separate days, one week apart. EEG, heart rate and blood pressure were assessed at baseline as well as during and after the bfCPT. Salivary cortisol and subjective ratings of stress and arousal were assessed before and after the bfCPT. The bfCPT led to a significant increase in cortisol, cardiovascular parameters and in subjective ratings of stress and arousal that was absent in the control condition. Furthermore, analysis of relative frontal alpha-band asymmetry revealed a stronger relative right frontal activation during the bfCPT compared to the control condition at electrode pairs F7/8 but not F3/4. However, frontal asymmetry scores during the bfCPT were not predictive for neither physiological responses nor subjective ratings. Moreover, an association between physiological responses and frontal asymmetry assessed during rest at baseline could be observed at electrode pairs F3/F4, with stronger responses being associated with stronger relative right frontal activation. Our results show that cold pressor stress leads to an alteration of emotional processes as reflected in frontal EEG asymmetry at F7/F8. Moreover, physiological responses to the CPT seem to be differentially moderated by trait and state components present in frontal asymmetry., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Cold Pressor Test (CPT) is a frequently employed laboratory stress protocol. However, with many experimental designs the application in its classic form (immersion of the dominant hand into ice-water) is problematic as unilateral stimulation may need to be avoided and/or hands are required for further measurements. Here, we describe a simple modification of the classic CPT in which both feet are immersed into ice-water and compare the evoked neuroendocrine stress response to the classic CPT in a within-subjects design. Twenty-four healthy participants were exposed to each of both CPT versions on two subsequent days in randomized order. Heart rate, blood pressure, salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol were measured at baseline and during or after CPT exposition, respectively, along with subjective ratings of pain and stress. The bilateral feet CPT induced marked increases in all measured stress parameters. Moreover, with the exception of blood pressure, autonomic and endocrine responses were enhanced compared to the classic CPT. The bilateral feet CPT thus is a valid and simple modification and may be useful when the application of the classic CPT is unfeasible or a stronger neuroendocrine stress response is of interest.

The Cold Pressor Test (CPT) is a frequently employed laboratory stress protocol. However, with many experimental designs the application in its classic form (immersion of the dominant hand into ice-water) is problematic as unilateral stimulation may need to be avoided and/or hands are required for further measurements. Here, we describe a simple modification of the classic CPT in which both feet are immersed into ice-water and compare the evoked neuroendocrine stress response to the classic CPT in a within-subjects design. Twenty-four healthy participants were exposed to each of both CPT versions on two subsequent days in randomized order. Heart rate, blood pressure, salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol were measured at baseline and during or after CPT exposition, respectively, along with subjective ratings of pain and stress. The bilateral feet CPT induced marked increases in all measured stress parameters. Moreover, with the exception of blood pressure, autonomic and endocrine responses were enhanced compared to the classic CPT. The bilateral feet CPT thus is a valid and simple modification and may be useful when the application of the classic CPT is unfeasible or a stronger neuroendocrine stress response is of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• Orthogonal variation of physical (CPT) and mental (PASAT) stress induction protocols. • Concurrent PASAT enhances cardiovascular, yet not cortisol reactivity to cold stress. • Decreased cognitive performance during CPT, but no attenuation of cold pain by PASAT. • Increased concordance between blood pressure and other reactivity measures. • No evidence for interference, but rather specific additive effects on stress response. Both cognitive stressors (such as mental arithmetic tasks) and physical stressors (such as the cold pressor test, CP) are among the most widely employed tools in acute stress research, and there is growing evidence for a high degree of stimulus-response specificity, rather than uniformity, in the human stress response. However, little is known about potential synergistic or interfering effects during concurrent administration. While cognitive tasks have been hypothesized to attenuate pain perception during CP, they are also thought to enhance physiological reactivity. Conversely, physical stress might interfere with effective stress induction by cognitive challenges. To address these questions, 56 participants underwent either the CP (3-min ice-water immersion of feet) or a warm-water control condition. In half of the sample, the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) was performed simultaneously (fully crossed interventions). Salivary cortisol, cardiovascular parameters, and subjective ratings as well as voice pitch (F0) were assessed. Results show that cortisol responses, self-reported pain and subjective arousal were mainly driven by cold exposure, which also led to increased F0. The PASAT incrementally enhanced cardiovascular reactions, but did not affect pain ratings nor cortisol responses to the CP. However, intra-individual concordance between elevated blood pressure and other reactivity measures was enhanced by PASAT administration during the CP. Importantly, performance decrements in the mental-arithmetic task were not associated with diminished stress responses. In conclusion, our results speak against any strong interference when administering cognitive and painful physical stressors simultaneously, pointing rather to specific additive effects, particularly regarding cardiovascular reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]