Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28229114›Full record

ReviewNeurobiology of stress2017

The Trier Social Stress Test: Principles and practice.

Andrew P Allen, Paul J Kennedy, Samantha Dockray, John F Cryan, Timothy G Dinan, Gerard Clarke

4 registry-linked trialsAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Neurobiology of stress, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 4 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 210 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
210citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT03862469 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2019, after this paper: background citation

Premenstrual Hormonal and Affective State Evaluation (PHASE) Project

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoRan2019 to 2023Enrolled129ConditionsPremenstrual Dysphoric DisorderArmsIndividualized laboratory test
NCT06784934 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Mindful Minds: Acceptability and Feasibility of Mindfulness-Based Neurofeedback Training for Racial and Ethnic Minority Scholars

TypeinterventionalSponsorFlorida International UniversityRan2025 to 2025Enrolled39ConditionsAcademic Performance, AnxietyArmsNeuroSky Mindfulness-Based Neurofeedback
NCT06986135 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

The Effect of Breathing Interventions on Biomarkers of Stress and Cognitive Performance Following a Psychologically Stressful Task

TypeinterventionalSponsorTexas State UniversityRan2024 to 2025Enrolled66ConditionsStress, Acute Stress Reaction, Breathing Techniques, Cognitive PerformanceArmsBox Breathing, Prolonged Exhalation, Normal Breathing
NCT07505641 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Breathing and Decision-Making (ProlEx-Context)

TypeinterventionalSponsorGerman Institute of Human NutritionRan2026 to 2027Enrolled50ConditionsBreathing Techniques, Stress Management, Decision-MakingArmsInstructed Prolonged Exhalation, Instructed Individualized Eupnea
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

210 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  2. The Fundamental Frequency of Voice as a Potential Stress Biomarker: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress · 2025
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  10. Effects of binaural beats on acute stress recovery and autonomic regulation in multiple sclerosis: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
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150 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Andrew P AllenAPC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Paul J KennedyAPC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Samantha DockraySchool of Applied Psychology, Enterprise Centre, University College Cork, North Mall, Cork, Ireland.
John F CryanAPC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Timothy G DinanAPC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Gerard ClarkeAPC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Researchers interested in the neurobiology of the acute stress response in humans require a valid and reliable acute stressor that can be used under experimental conditions. The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) provides such a testing platform. It induces stress by requiring participants to make an interview-style presentation, followed by a surprise mental arithmetic test, in front of an interview panel who do not provide feedback or encouragement. In this review, we outline the methodology of the TSST, and discuss key findings under conditions of health and stress-related disorder. The TSST has unveiled differences in males and females, as well as different age groups, in their neurobiological response to acute stress. The TSST has also deepened our understanding of how genotype may moderate the cognitive neurobiology of acute stress, and exciting new inroads have been made in understanding epigenetic contributions to the biological regulation of the acute stress response using the TSST. A number of innovative adaptations have been developed which allow for the TSST to be used in group settings, with children, in combination with brain imaging, and with virtual committees. Future applications may incorporate the emerging links between the gut microbiome and the stress response. Future research should also maximise use of behavioural data generated by the TSST. Alternative acute stress paradigms may have utility over the TSST in certain situations, such as those that require repeat testing. Nonetheless, we expect that the TSST remains the gold standard for examining the cognitive neurobiology of acute stress in humans.

Indexed as

CognitionEpigeneticsGenotypeHPA axisStress

Identifiers

PMID28229114
PMCPMC5314443

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.