---
_id: '13641'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: The neuro-physiological response to stress has far-reaching implications for
    learning and memory processes. Here, we examined whether and how the stress-induced
    release of cortisol, following the socially-evaluated cold pressor test, influenced
    the acquisition of preferences in an evaluative conditioning (EC) procedure. We
    found that when the stressor preceded the evaluation phase, cortisol responders
    showed decreased evaluative conditioning effects. By contrast, impairing effects
    of a stressor-induced cortisol release before encoding were not found. Moreover,
    explicit memory was not found to be affected by the stressor or its timing. Implications
    of the timing-dependent effects of stress-induced cortisol release on EC and the
    relation between stress and associative memory are discussed.
author:
- first_name: Georg
  full_name: Halbeisen, Georg
  id: '85780'
  last_name: Halbeisen
  orcid: 0000-0002-9529-2215
- first_name: Benjamin
  full_name: Buttlar, Benjamin
  last_name: Buttlar
- first_name: Siri-Maria
  full_name: Kamp, Siri-Maria
  last_name: Kamp
- first_name: Eva
  full_name: Walther, Eva
  last_name: Walther
citation:
  ama: Halbeisen G, Buttlar B, Kamp SM, Walther E. The timing-dependent effects of
    stress-induced cortisol release on evaluative conditioning. <i>International Journal
    of Psychophysiology</i>. 2020;152:44-52. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007">10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007</a>
  apa: Halbeisen, G., Buttlar, B., Kamp, S.-M., &#38; Walther, E. (2020). The timing-dependent
    effects of stress-induced cortisol release on evaluative conditioning. <i>International
    Journal of Psychophysiology</i>, <i>152</i>, 44–52. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007</a>
  bjps: <b>Halbeisen G <i>et al.</i></b> (2020) The Timing-Dependent Effects of Stress-Induced
    Cortisol Release on Evaluative Conditioning. <i>International Journal of Psychophysiology</i>
    <b>152</b>, 44–52.
  chicago: 'Halbeisen, Georg, Benjamin Buttlar, Siri-Maria Kamp, and Eva Walther.
    “The Timing-Dependent Effects of Stress-Induced Cortisol Release on Evaluative
    Conditioning.” <i>International Journal of Psychophysiology</i> 152 (2020): 44–52.
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007</a>.'
  chicago-de: 'Halbeisen, Georg, Benjamin Buttlar, Siri-Maria Kamp und Eva Walther.
    2020. The timing-dependent effects of stress-induced cortisol release on evaluative
    conditioning. <i>International Journal of Psychophysiology</i> 152: 44–52. doi:<a
    href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007">10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007</a>,
    .'
  din1505-2-1: '<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Halbeisen, Georg</span> ; <span
    style="font-variant:small-caps;">Buttlar, Benjamin</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Kamp,
    Siri-Maria</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Walther, Eva</span>:
    The timing-dependent effects of stress-induced cortisol release on evaluative
    conditioning. In: <i>International Journal of Psychophysiology</i> Bd. 152, Elsevier
    BV (2020), S. 44–52'
  havard: G. Halbeisen, B. Buttlar, S.-M. Kamp, E. Walther, The timing-dependent effects
    of stress-induced cortisol release on evaluative conditioning, International Journal
    of Psychophysiology. 152 (2020) 44–52.
  ieee: 'G. Halbeisen, B. Buttlar, S.-M. Kamp, and E. Walther, “The timing-dependent
    effects of stress-induced cortisol release on evaluative conditioning,” <i>International
    Journal of Psychophysiology</i>, vol. 152, pp. 44–52, 2020, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007">10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007</a>.'
  mla: Halbeisen, Georg, et al. “The Timing-Dependent Effects of Stress-Induced Cortisol
    Release on Evaluative Conditioning.” <i>International Journal of Psychophysiology</i>,
    vol. 152, 2020, pp. 44–52, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007</a>.
  short: G. Halbeisen, B. Buttlar, S.-M. Kamp, E. Walther, International Journal of
    Psychophysiology 152 (2020) 44–52.
  ufg: '<b>Halbeisen, Georg u. a.</b>: The timing-dependent effects of stress-induced
    cortisol release on evaluative conditioning, in: <i>International Journal of Psychophysiology</i>
    152 (2020),  S. 44–52.'
  van: Halbeisen G, Buttlar B, Kamp SM, Walther E. The timing-dependent effects of
    stress-induced cortisol release on evaluative conditioning. International Journal
    of Psychophysiology. 2020;152:44–52.
date_created: 2026-03-27T10:16:23Z
date_updated: 2026-04-08T13:56:40Z
department:
- _id: DEP1500
doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.007
extern: '1'
external_id:
  isi:
  - '000534573000005'
  pmid:
  - '32302644'
intvolume: '       152'
isi: '1'
keyword:
- Affective learning
- Socially-evaluated cold pressor test
- Free salivary cortisol
- Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis
- Evaluative conditioning
language:
- iso: eng
page: 44-52
pmid: '1'
publication: International Journal of Psychophysiology
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1872-7697
  issn:
  - 0167-8760
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier BV
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: The timing-dependent effects of stress-induced cortisol release on evaluative
  conditioning
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83781'
volume: 152
year: '2020'
...
---
_id: '13578'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: In recent years, virtual reality (VR) technology has found its way into nearly
    all fields of psychology. Previous studies indicated that virtual reality adaptations
    of the TSST are less potent in stimulating HPA-axis responses, with lower salivary
    cortisol responses recorded as compared to the in-vivo TSST. (TSST-IV). In the
    present experiment we tested the stress-induction potential of a refined version
    of the TSST-VR using a fully orthogonal experimental design in which ninety-three
    healthy males were either assigned to the TSST condition or a corresponding control
    condition in a real or virtual environment. We found a significant increase of
    endocrine, autonomic and self-reported stress markers in both stress conditions.
    Notably, we found a robust rise in salivary cortisol to the TSST-VR comparable
    to that observed in the TSST-IV. Despite subtle differences in response between
    virtual and in vivo settings, we conclude that VR adaptations of in-vivo stressors
    have the potential to induce real physiological and subjective reactions.
author:
- first_name: Patrick
  full_name: Zimmer, Patrick
  last_name: Zimmer
- first_name: Benjamin
  full_name: Buttlar, Benjamin
  last_name: Buttlar
- first_name: Georg
  full_name: Halbeisen, Georg
  id: '85780'
  last_name: Halbeisen
  orcid: 0000-0002-9529-2215
- first_name: Eva
  full_name: Walther, Eva
  last_name: Walther
- first_name: ' Gregor'
  full_name: Domes,  Gregor
  last_name: Domes
citation:
  ama: Zimmer P, Buttlar B, Halbeisen G, Walther E, Domes  Gregor. Virtually stressed?
    A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) induces
    robust endocrine responses. <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>. 2019;101(3):186-192.
    doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>
  apa: Zimmer, P., Buttlar, B., Halbeisen, G., Walther, E., &#38; Domes,  Gregor.
    (2019). Virtually stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier
    Social Stress Test (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses. <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>,
    <i>101</i>(3), 186–192. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>
  bjps: <b>Zimmer P <i>et al.</i></b> (2019) Virtually Stressed? A Refined Virtual
    Reality Adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) Induces Robust Endocrine
    Responses. <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> <b>101</b>, 186–192.
  chicago: 'Zimmer, Patrick, Benjamin Buttlar, Georg Halbeisen, Eva Walther, and  Gregor
    Domes. “Virtually Stressed? A Refined Virtual Reality Adaptation of the Trier
    Social Stress Test (TSST) Induces Robust Endocrine Responses.” <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>
    101, no. 3 (2019): 186–92. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>.'
  chicago-de: 'Zimmer, Patrick, Benjamin Buttlar, Georg Halbeisen, Eva Walther und  Gregor
    Domes. 2019. Virtually stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier
    Social Stress Test (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses. <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>
    101, Nr. 3: 186–192. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>,
    .'
  din1505-2-1: '<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Zimmer, Patrick</span> ; <span
    style="font-variant:small-caps;">Buttlar, Benjamin</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Halbeisen,
    Georg</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Walther, Eva</span> ; <span
    style="font-variant:small-caps;">Domes,  Gregor</span>: Virtually stressed? A
    refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) induces
    robust endocrine responses. In: <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> Bd. 101. Amsterdam
    [u.a.], Elsevier (2019), Nr. 3, S. 186–192'
  havard: P. Zimmer, B. Buttlar, G. Halbeisen, E. Walther,  Gregor Domes, Virtually
    stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test
    (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses, Psychoneuroendocrinology. 101 (2019)
    186–192.
  ieee: 'P. Zimmer, B. Buttlar, G. Halbeisen, E. Walther, and  Gregor Domes, “Virtually
    stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test
    (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses,” <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>, vol.
    101, no. 3, pp. 186–192, 2019, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>.'
  mla: Zimmer, Patrick, et al. “Virtually Stressed? A Refined Virtual Reality Adaptation
    of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) Induces Robust Endocrine Responses.” <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>,
    vol. 101, no. 3, 2019, pp. 186–92, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>.
  short: P. Zimmer, B. Buttlar, G. Halbeisen, E. Walther,  Gregor Domes, Psychoneuroendocrinology
    101 (2019) 186–192.
  ufg: '<b>Zimmer, Patrick u. a.</b>: Virtually stressed? A refined virtual reality
    adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses,
    in: <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> 101 (2019), H. 3,  S. 186–192.'
  van: Zimmer P, Buttlar B, Halbeisen G, Walther E, Domes  Gregor. Virtually stressed?
    A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) induces
    robust endocrine responses. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019;101(3):186–92.
date_created: 2026-03-25T13:36:07Z
date_updated: 2026-04-08T13:49:27Z
department:
- _id: DEP1500
doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010
extern: '1'
external_id:
  isi:
  - '000459840000024'
  pmid:
  - '30469086'
intvolume: '       101'
isi: '1'
issue: '3'
keyword:
- Psychological stress
- Virtual reality
- Trier Social Stress Test
- Free salivary cortisol
- Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis
- Alpha amylase
language:
- iso: eng
page: 186-192
place: Amsterdam [u.a.]
pmid: '1'
publication: Psychoneuroendocrinology
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1873-3360
  issn:
  - 0306-4530
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: Virtually stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social
  Stress Test (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83781'
volume: 101
year: '2019'
...