Previous research has demonstrated associations between cognitive-affective processes and physiological stress responses. The hot/cool system of analysis is a framework that posits close links between affective processes, attentional mechanisms, and stress, and maintains that self-regulatory competencies are based in a dual cognitive-emotional system, consisting of “hot” and “cool” activation. The “cool” system processes cognitive, contextual information, while the “hot” system processes emotional/motivational information. However, the balance between activation of the two systems varies as a function of stress level: as stress levels rise, cool-system activation decreases, leaving the hot system to dominate processing.

As attention tends to focus on emotional features in times of stress, stressful perceptions may activate both the hot system of processing and increased physiological stress reactivity. Over time, high stress levels may stimulate and/or prolong physiological responses such as increased cardiovascular reactivity, which could lead to increased vulnerability to disease. However, conscious attempts to regulate attention may help individuals navigate stressful situations more effectively. Specifically, focusing on cognitive features of stressful situations, rather than intense, emotional aspects may (1) promote the perception that a stressful event is manageable, and (2) evoke more adaptive cardiovascular responses. In contrast, heightened attention to emotionally intense features of a situation may amplify stress and promote less adaptive cardiovascular responses.

No previous studies have investigated the relationship between the hot/cool system of analysis, physiological activity, and acute stress. Accordingly, this study manipulated “hot” versus “cool” attentional focus in the context of a stressful speech task in order to test the effects of attentional focus on psychological and cardiovascular responses. It was hypothesized that attending to cool, contextual features during the task would be associated with reduced cardiovascular reactivity and reduced negative mood, whereas focusing on hot, emotional aspects would be associated with increased cardiovascular response and greater negative mood. Results indicated that participants experienced significantly increased blood pressure, significantly reduced heart rate variability, and significantly increased negative mood in response to the task; however, there were no group differences on these dimensions as predicted. Some possible explanations for these outcomes are discussed.