I want for you to take a minute and watch a clip below from the National Geographic channel titled Brain Games! It is an interactive, as well as informative, video where they have a memory matching game in the beginning to do yourself! Give it a go!
That was pretty neat right?! All right let's move on…
If you recall from our textbook, emotionally significant memories form quickly. This is because emotions increase adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol in the hippocampus and amygdala where the brain enhances the storage and consolidation of recent experiences, i.e., better memories. But what happens when the same chemicals are elevated continuously in our system? And how do these levels affect human memory in the long run? Will it have a positive or negative effect?
To answer, take a quick look at the image below. It illustrates how a type of stress, called chronic stress, negatively affects human memory.
Adrenaline and cortisol are natural occurring chemicals in our body that are apparent for homeostasis. In fact, initial stages of adrenaline insurgence can cause a feeling of euphoria (i.e. adrenaline junkie) and is necessary for fight-or-flight to cope in fear-causing situations, but prolong stress (or abnormal levels of both chemicals) actually result to memory impairment.
The hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex are the brain structures associated with memory. Glucocorticoids are stress chemicals that directly impair memory. Cortisol is a bio-marker that triggers the impairment of memory. Adrenaline is a stress hormone used for flight-or-fight situations, how humans cope with stressful situations for survival.
Below is a chemical structure of the stress hormone cortisol
Below is adrenaline
In conclusion, stress negatively affects memory if the chemicals associated with it are imbalanced. If not observed early, it can not only affect our emotions but our cognition as well. I found a neat chart that exposes stress we can experience in different human levels. I thought I could also benefit from this in the future:
So now you have an idea about the negative consequences of seemingly good chemicals in our memory and emotional wellness. I want to know if this inspired you to change something in your life regarding stress? Also, I would appreciate your own strategies on how to cope with stress! Comment below! Thank you!
Wow. I have always been told that stress is bad, but the extensity to which it is... is actually fascinating. Its pretty cool to think of our bodies as an intertwined structure that comes apart at the seams and falls apart if one thread comes loose, and stress can actually do just that. I actually find that prayer is a great stress reliever alongside a peaceful and quiet walk outside just listening to the natural sounds. Talking to someone and asking for advice is actually really helpful too because it gives you a different outlook on your stressful situation.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a good observation. I was brought up in a family who cared about practicing religious rituals. And ever since I've moved here to America, I've lost that. Physically and mentally, I think the cause of many of my unnecessary worries and anxieties is due to a withdrawal from those religious practices. I mean talk about going to church twice a week, with intense silent pauses in between listening to priest, as well as being urged to practice praying and silent treatments at home every night... It was intense. And now living without that, I realize a majority of my anxiety is probably due to that.
DeleteAs a college student majoring in science, stress isn't a foreign concept to me. I noticed that a lot of the different types of stress on that chart are types that I go through on a daily basis myself. Physical stress~from not getting enough sleep; behavioral ~due to procrastination, cognitive~ that comes from worrying for me, and emotional~ from nervousness. I'm studying to take my MCAT right now, so I definitely know what you mean and agree with you about stress having an impact on memory. Sometimes it's just better to breath, relax, and try to go with the flow.
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