Psychoneuroendocrine responses to mental load in an achievement-oriented task

Abstract

Blood levels of Cortisol, prolactin, somatotropin, dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline were measured in 31 healthy men before and after a computer-based achievement-oriented task. The design of the task allowed subjects to predict their working pace, but effort was still required to perform well. The test-retest reliability was studied on 21 subjects at the same time of the day and with a mean interval of 4 days. Although the task was attention-demanding subjective ratings of various aspects of strain were only moderately elevated. During the task, Cortisol and prolactin levels in blood significantly decreased. Other hormone levels remained unchanged. The observed psychoneuroendocrine responses were quantitatively reliable for each of the retested subjects. During an achievement-oriented situation hypothalamic-pituitary functions were deactivated suggesting that the subject was in a state of control and of mental well-being.