title: Gains in fluid ability performance and their relationship to cortisol.
abstract: The present analyses examined the relationship between cortisol and performance gains in crystallized (Gc) and fluid (Gf) ability, as well as the relationship to measures of everyday cognitive functioning in a sample of 73 older adults. The analyses were part of a larger study examining the impact of anxiety-reduction training on everyday tasks. Cortisol was assessed via urine sampling. Results indicated that there was a significant negative correlation between cortisol and performance gains for Gf, replicating earlier findings reported by our laboratory. These findings also extend the relationship to cortisol measured in urine; previous analyses were conducted using serum-based cortisol. Cortisol was also significantly related to performance gains in some measures of everyday cognitive functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton 76203, USA.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hayslip
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology* / Q000652:urine*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine*; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011932:Reading; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone