How does Stress affect our Brain? + more videos | #aumsum #kids #science #education #children

It turns out that short-term stress is actually a good thing. When we get stressed, the fear center of our brain called amygdala activates the Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal Axis. This is our central stress system which releases hormones and prepares our body for fight or flight.

However, chronic stress can have negative effects on our brain. This is because one of the hormones released during stress is cortisol. It is believed that high level of cortisol leads to gradual loss in synapses. Synapses are connections between neurons in the brain which help process and recollect information. Secondly, prefrontal cortex is associated with social behavior, decision making, etc. Too much cortisol can shrink our prefrontal cortex, thus decreasing our ability to interact and make judgments. Lastly, a study showed that chronic stress may inhibit the growth of neurons in the hippocampus, decreasing our ability to learn and remember.