Salivary Alpha Amylase Levels under Conditions of Extreme Examination Stress

Abstract

11 healthy adult graduate students were studied on two separate occasions 2 wk. apart at the same time of day. Self-rating of perceived stress and serial measurements of salivary alpha-amylase levels were performed at T₁ = 15 min. before, T₂ = 1 min. before, T₃= 1 min. after, and T₄= 15 min. after an event. The events were a highly stressful master's degree oral examination on the first occasion and 15 min. of typing on a computer on the second occasion as a control activity. A kinetic assay was used to estimate salivary alpha-amylase activity. Students rated higher stress on the oral examination day, and their salivary alpha-amylase activity was higher during the oral examination period than on the second less stressful control day.