Acute stress reduces speech fluency

Biol Psychol. 2014 Mar:97:60-6. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2014.02.005. Epub 2014 Feb 17.

Abstract

People often report word-finding difficulties and other language disturbances when put in a stressful situation. There is, however, scant empirical evidence to support the claim that stress affects speech productivity. To address this issue, we measured speech and language variables during a stressful Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) as well as during a less stressful "placebo" TSST (Het et al., 2009). Compared to the non-stressful speech, participants showed higher word productivity during the TSST. By contrast, participants paused more during the stressful TSST, an effect that was especially pronounced in participants who produced a larger cortisol and heart rate response to the stressor. Findings support anecdotal evidence of stress-impaired speech production abilities.

Keywords: Cortisol; Language; Speech; Stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Affect / physiology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Communication
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Electrocardiography
  • Fear / psychology
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
  • Language
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Saliva / metabolism
  • Social Environment
  • Speech / physiology*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Hydrocortisone