Stress can be an excellent motivational factor when motivating a student to learn before an important exam. Stress, in general, is, however, a source of more of a challenge than an advantage. This is especially true in many aspects, such as health-promoting habits or relationships and our memory.
Stress can hinder how we create and retrieve memories, ultimately impacting how we process memory. Find out what research has revealed regarding the connection between stress and memory and how to reverse the loss of memory due to stress.
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How Stress Affects Memory
Studies have found that stress impacts our memory in various ways, each with its own impact.
Stress and Memory Formation
Stress can influence the way memories are formed.2 People who are stressed are more prone to making short-term memories and then transforming those short-term memories into long-term memories. This means it’s harder to master when you are stressed.
Memory can also change after it has been created. Each time we retrieve an experience, we color it compatible with the present moment of our knowledge. For instance, when we remove something from the shelf and return it, we leave behind a new set of fingerprints after touching it once more.
Stress and Memory Type
Stress can influence the quality of memories we create. If we’re stressed out during an activity, we could have a harder time remembering details of the event in the future. Stress also affects our perception and the ability to remember what we see.
This is one reason eyewitness testimony can be so unreliable.3 It is impossible to be 100% certain that witnesses will remember what they saw accurately.
Research has shown that if individuals are asked questions and provided with incorrect information about what they’ve experienced, that information can influence their memories and what they believe they have experienced. This new but incorrect information is easier to remember since it is older than the actual event itself. This is the reason well-intentioned lines of questioning make fake memories.
Additional Impacts
A meta-analysis was carried out on 113 stress research studies in which researchers looked at the studies independently to identify their main conclusions. What does this research reveal about the relation between stress and money?
The timing of the stressor is crucial. One of the more fascinating results was that stress can hinder the creation of memories if it happens before or during encoded time, which is the period during which memory formation occurs. Stress after encoding enhanced the formation of memories and their retrieval. That is, stress after memory was created improved memory-making.
Cortisol increases do not impact memory. Stress causes cortisol to rise. However, studies showed no correlation between cortisol levels and the impact of the stress response on memory. Creating more cortisol during your stress response won’t necessarily mean that your memory will be more impaired than someone less hormonally responsive. It is interesting to note that women taking oral contraceptives had less of a negative impact.
Stress-related exhaustion can have adverse effects. Stress can cause exhaustion, which can cause cognitive impairments, including problems in working memory and attention. The problem is that memory impairment can be observed three years after exhaustion is addressed.6 This is a reminder of the importance of addressing stress before it reaches the point of exhaustion.
While Neuro Thrive can be a helpful tool, it’s important to remember that a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle are crucial for optimal brain function. Always consult your doctor before starting any new supplements.
Improve Your Memory Under Stress
There are many ways to improve your memory during stressful times. However, these strategies can also help you manage stress. Of course, the most crucial thing is to take care of yourself, get sufficient sleep, consume nutritious meals, and reduce stress.
Sleep deprivation, stress, and physical ailments affect memory and can cause stress that can hinder memory creation and retrieval.
Other strategies that work well. Here are a few research-based strategies to test:
Practice breathing exercises and other techniques to relax. One study on police cadets revealed that training in psychological performance improved the recall of cadets who were under stress. Seven techniques were employed, including breathing exercises, imagery, and focusing on the present. If you are stressed, use these strategies to increase recall.
Move around. A study that examined how aerobic exercises affect memory in individuals with memory impairments found that a 12-week exercise program did indeed improve their memory.8 The participants had slight cognitive impairment as a result of stress-related exhaustion. Therefore, these outcomes are relevant, especially for people who are stressed.
Practice mindfulness. Researchers have also discovered that mindfulness practices can benefit memory by reducing stress and providing more restful and healthy sleep. One study revealed that mindfulness reduced stress and reduced memory and sleep problems.9 Furthermore, because mindfulness is about being more present and aware, it is possible that you will be more attentive and recall details that you would not otherwise.
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Final ThoughtsÂ
Stress can affect all aspects of our lives. Although we may not be able to eliminate stress completely, we can deal with it in a manner that can benefit us by increasing self-confidence in a variety of aspects of our lives, such as better memory.
