1. Stress and Cognition “Intraindividual Coupling of Daily Stress and Cognition”

2. Stress and Cognition In the article, Sliwinski, Smyth, Hofer, and Stawski examined daily stress and variability in cognitive performance by considering these relationships both within persons and between persons. In the article, Sliwinski, Smyth, Hofer, and Stawski examined daily stress and variability in cognitive performance by considering these relationships both within persons and between persons.

3. Attention-Depletion Hypothesis The authors suggest that “individuals should have more available attentional resources when their stress is low compared when their stress is high”. (p. 546) The authors suggest that “individuals should have more available attentional resources when their stress is low compared when their stress is high”. (p. 546)

4. One Goal of the Study Are older adults more vulnerable than younger adults to the effects of stress? Are older adults more vulnerable than younger adults to the effects of stress?

5. Another Goal of the Study Do these daily fluctuations on stress influence our response time? Do these daily fluctuations on stress influence our response time?

6. Attentional Control Stress seems to impair processing that lies outside the focus of our attention. Stress seems to impair processing that lies outside the focus of our attention. Our working memory is not a static variable. It may fluctuate as a function of experienced stress. Our working memory is not a static variable. It may fluctuate as a function of experienced stress.

7. Conclusions There is not necessarily a an amplification of stress in older adults. There is not necessarily a an amplification of stress in older adults. The study indicated that older adults may only identify severe stressors, while younger adults are more aware of minor hassles. The study indicated that older adults may only identify severe stressors, while younger adults are more aware of minor hassles.

8. Uniqueness of This Study The study demonstrates “that variability in daily stressors predicts intraindividual fluctuations in cognitive performance” (p. 555). The study demonstrates “that variability in daily stressors predicts intraindividual fluctuations in cognitive performance” (p. 555).