Baseline Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis and Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity Interact to Predict Executive Functions in Low-Income Children

Stephen H. Braren; Annie Brandes-Aitken; Rosemarie E. Perry; Kevon Williams; Krystalle Lyons; Sashana Rowe-Harriott; Clancy Blair

doi:10.1111/mbe.12267

Baseline Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis and Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity Interact to Predict Executive Functions in Low-Income Children

Stephen H. Braren, Annie Brandes-Aitken, Rosemarie E. Perry, Kevon Williams, Krystalle Lyons, Sashana Rowe-Harriott, Clancy Blair

Applied Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We examined interactions between baseline hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity in relation to executive functions (EF) in a sample (n = 1,005) of children in low wealth, nonurban communities at age 48 months. Salivary cortisol and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) represented baseline HPA axis and PNS activity, respectively. The interaction between RSA and cortisol predicted EF such that children with either lower RSA and lower cortisol, or higher RSA and higher cortisol had higher EF scores. These findings suggest a potential compensatory relation in which the PNS and HPA axis counterbalance each other to support cognition.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	61-66
Number of pages	6
Journal	Mind, Brain, and Education
Volume	15
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/mbe.12267
State	Published - Feb 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Education
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience

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10.1111/mbe.12267

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abstract = "We examined interactions between baseline hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity in relation to executive functions (EF) in a sample (n = 1,005) of children in low wealth, nonurban communities at age 48 months. Salivary cortisol and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) represented baseline HPA axis and PNS activity, respectively. The interaction between RSA and cortisol predicted EF such that children with either lower RSA and lower cortisol, or higher RSA and higher cortisol had higher EF scores. These findings suggest a potential compensatory relation in which the PNS and HPA axis counterbalance each other to support cognition.",

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AU - Perry, Rosemarie E.

AU - Williams, Kevon

AU - Lyons, Krystalle

AU - Rowe-Harriott, Sashana

AU - Blair, Clancy

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Baseline Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis and Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity Interact to Predict Executive Functions in Low-Income Children

Abstract

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