impact of stress on the brain's prefrontal cortex, responsible for higher cognitive functions crucial for thriving in demanding environments like Yale.
neurobiological basis behind symptoms of burnout — and what can be done to reverse it.
Amy Arnsten’s decades of research on the effects of stress on the brain were inspired by seeing “how people fall apart,”
Arnsten highlighted that a person’s perceived ability to control a stressor is a key determinant of its effect on their brain.
“Freezing is a reflex that can be mediated by the brainstem,” Arnsten explained. “So you can see that there are many instances where having this rapid switch to more primitive brain circuits can save your
“Freezing is a reflex that can be mediated by the brainstem,” Arnsten explained. “So you can see that there are many instances where having this rapid switch to more primitive brain circuits can save your life.
during COVID, being able to imagine an invisible virus, you can’t see it the way you see a bear.”
month of study for the exam can be characterized as “psychosocial stress,” an imbalance between adverse life situations and one’s ability to cope with them.
Brain imaging revealed that the stressor of studying for the major exam weakened the connectivity of the prefrontal network, leading to impaired prefrontal function and impaired attention regulation.
symptoms of breakdown when we begin to lose our ability to concentrate,”
Eventually the system will break down and we will need to rest to focus at all.”
