How Stress Drains Your Brain — and What To Do About It | Nicole Byers | TED

Do you ever feel extra forgetful? Stress could be the culprit. In a fascinating talk about how your memory works, neuropsychologist Nicole Byers shares the science behind how stress drains your brain's resources, making it harder to remember things and easier to make mistakes. But fear not: she also shares a simple solution to recharge your brain and get your memory back on track.

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[lynnroney]

I’m 67, and now I realize I’m not losing it. I’m being normal. 38 years of nursing, 20 in critical care. Because I did, on a regular floor I was ALWAYS given the sickest patients. There are NO mistakes, MUST quickly process and rapidly problem solve, be part of end of life, codes, what’s going on with each patient because a doc is going to be asking, teaching newer nurses, and the stress of being responsible for someone’s actual LIFE. So much more. No wonder my brain is done. 2years of Covid, I live alone. Not good. Then the second worst year of my entire life. I can see it all now. I can make a plan to recover. There are things I can do to help in different memory situations. So glad I took the time to watch this. It’s saved to watch again.

[gameoflife]

Learnings - when u r thinking about a specific thing & u can't remember after trying hard then relax and focus on something else. When you shift your attention then you remember that specific thing automatically.

Gratitude for the learning 🙏

[DontLooseHope]

It was a wonderful concept, I often get stuck with my memory when I try to remember some important things and usually forget something I have done the things on the project
Key takeaways :
1. Our memory can store approximately 2.5 million gigabytes of information
2. Memory storage is vast but all the information is not accessible at once.
3. Memory cells store our memory and when needed the information will be accessible by giving more memory power.
4. Sometimes, due to external forces like stress, fatigue, worry, distractions, and multitasking our memory cells get blocked from accessing the required information and it will be remembered later when the block clears.
5. When sometimes, our memory gets stuck for a particular piece of information that's due the the fact that our memory cells got blocked and exhausted and we are thinking hard and using all our brain powers for that particular thing. Instead of this, all we need to do is reset our memory by doing some other things like talking about something different, walking around the office for a few minutes as fun, and scrolling through social media for a few seconds. In this way, we are activating other parts of memory cells and this gives the required time to remember the particular things

[HackerFromMars]

When she said we live in a distracting world 5:53 an Ad popped up to me.
That proves her point.😢

[toni]

You actually make me feel relaxed. I had a seizure over forty years ago that did me some real damage but although the damage is still there and memory isn't as good as it could be, it has gradually improved over the years. It's really annoying though when constantly asked on PCs passwords or codes. I could pull out my hair at times. There should be a better way, especially when we get old.

[notjustanotherbrickinthewall]

This made me feel so much better. Working in marketing is stressful specially in this time of the year. I got worried about how much I kept forgetting. Thank you for this video!

[gino]

What is Stress ?
Stress is forgetting a password, entering it in 3 times incorrectly.. blocking your account … go through resetting password steps… enter in new password… “sorry, you can not use a previously used password”

Modern world stress

[CharmyCharmCharm]

This video IS SO UNDERRATED. I was wondering why I forget so much

[dameanvil]

00:36 🧠 Memory storage is vast, but not all information is readily accessible. Different memory systems have limits, affecting our ability to recall.
01:34 📝 Patient HM’s case revealed different memory types: automatic recall vs. effortful retrieval. Some learning occurs without conscious awareness.
02:39 🛒 Short-term memory capacity is limited; distractions easily derail it. Modern life’s distractions strain memory and increase the likelihood of errors.
04:06 💡 Stress, even day-to-day pressures, occupies brain space, leading to mental multitasking and memory lapses.
05:07 🧐 Stress impairs memory retrieval, problem-solving, and creative thinking, affecting our ability to remember essential information.
06:43 🧠 Overthinking doesn’t always help memory. Taking breaks or diverting attention can reset the brain and aid memory retrieval.
07:47 🔄 When struggling to recall, engaging in unrelated activities can recharge memory centers and facilitate easier access to information.

[JeremyLMarquez]

00:08 Stress affects memory and brain efficiency
01:20 Brain surgery can impact memory and learning ability
02:35 Short-term memory is easily prone to interference.
03:36 Stress and multitasking drain the brain
04:42 Stress leads to distractions and inefficiency
05:53 Stress impacts memory and problem-solving abilities.
06:59 Stress and overthinking can block memory access.
08:06 Take micro breaks to recharge your brain
Crafted by Merlin AI.

[BaldAndCurious]

1. Dont multitask
2. Meditate.

Got it. 😊

[thanks]

Overwhelmed > overload “cognitive capacity” try up-down thinking framework (e.g. Minto Pyramid)
Constant worries > try read about anxiety & existential philosophy, from Kierkegaard, Satre, Beauvoir, Camus. Introspective philosophy: Descartes, Richard Moran, Henri Bergson, Ricoeur. Social Dynamics/Emotional Intelligence: Frances Frei, Brian Lowery, Susan David, Shawn Achor, Amy Jen Su

[blueglassog]

My mum has been saying this my whole life. Miss her😢

[ThreezeNiNja]

7:01 it is wild to think we can DDOS-attack our own brain.

[liam.]

I'm still learning but I feel the best way to deal with the stress is not to avoid but learn to express it and deal with it, I still struggle with it though

[toni]

Most of us are in too much of a hurry to walk away from the PC for five minutes. Sad but true.

[kieutran]

Yay now I'm stressed about my stress.

[alan_yong]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

00:04 🧠 *Memory Capacity and Accessibility*
- Our brains can store vast amounts of information, but not all of it is easily accessible.
- Different memory systems have limits, impacting memory efficiency.
- Factors in daily life, such as stress, can affect how easily we can recall information.
01:34 🔄 *Types of Memory and Interference*
- Different types of memory exist, some automatic, while others require more effort.
- Memories that require more brainpower are prone to interference.
- Short-term memory, used for tasks like grocery lists, is susceptible to distractions and can hold limited information.
03:07 🧑‍💼 *Cognitive Challenges in Modern Life*
- Living in a distracting modern world affects memory retention.
- Multitasking and dealing with distractions consume mental energy.
- Juggling numerous tasks can lead to memory errors and impact overall cognitive performance.
04:06 🤯 *Impact of Stress on Memory*
- Stress, even from day-to-day activities, can drain cognitive resources.
- Mental multitasking under stress can lead to forgetfulness and memory errors.
- Stress not only affects memory retrieval but also impairs problem-solving and creativity.
05:41 🌐 *Larger Stresses and Memory*
- Bigger stresses, like the challenges of a multi-year pandemic, financial pressure, and family stress, also impact memory.
- Memory errors are normal, especially when tired, overworked, or stressed.
- Understanding the impact of stress on memory is crucial in managing cognitive function.
06:43 ⚙️ *Strategies to Boost Memory*
- Thinking harder about a specific memory may not be effective due to competitive inhibition.
- Taking a mental break and redirecting focus can help reset the brain.
- Micro breaks during work can refresh mental resources and improve overall cognitive function.

Made with HARPA AI

[Nyssa]

I had forgotten that I had watched this video before…

[dm-]

Super interesting. Watching it day after June 2024 presidential debate. This makes a lot of sense & explains what happened & next day improvement.