Does Stress Make You Less Smart?
Our brain is one mysterious organ. Yet, the basic concept of brain evolution helps us understand how it functions on a broad sense, and therefore deduce how we, humans, function on a broad sense. This concept, called the triune brain theory, suggests that the human brain comprises three main evolutionary layers: the reptilian brain - for survival instincts, the limbic system - for emotions and memory, and the neocortex - for advanced cognitive functions. We, humans, have these three parts in us, and only one of them is unique to us as species - can you guess which? Yes, it’s the thinking brain, which gave us the catchy name “homo-sapiens”, which roughly translates to “wise human”.
This notion of "wisdom," referring to our intellectual abilities, has played a crucial role in both science and religion. In science, Descartes' renowned statement —"I think, therefore I am"—has long symbolized the divide between mind and body. In religion, particularly within the three major traditions, similar beliefs prevail: humans must overcome their primal instincts, using willpower to rise above their animalistic tendencies.
Unfortunately, our cognitive abilities are severely impaired when experiencing stress. When there is a perceived threat, the reaction of "fight-or-flight" shifts the brain's focus from higher cognitive functions, like reasoning, problem-solving and decision-making, to more basic survival instincts. Blood flow is redirected away from areas responsible for complex thought, such as the prefrontal cortex, toward regions involved in physical responses, like the motor system. As a result, during moments of heightened stress or fear, our ability to think clearly, make rational decisions, or concentrate is diminished.
The "fight-or-flight" is activated in response to perceived threats or stressors in the environment. It is an evolutionary adaptation that prepares the body to either confront the threat (fight) or escape from it (flight). The activation of this response triggers a cascade of physiological changes to help the individual deal with the perceived danger.
The "fight-or-flight" response can be triggered by various stimuli, including:
Physical Threats: Direct physical threats such as an attack by a predator or a dangerous object approaching suddenly.
Psychological Stress: Stressful situations such as public speaking, financial worries, relationship conflicts or work pressure, can also trigger the "fight-or-flight" response.
Emotional Threats: Strong emotions like fear and anger, can activate this response, especially if there is a hard time to contain and regulate them.
Perceived Danger: Situations that are not objectively dangerous but are perceived as threatening can also elicit the response. For example, a person feeling threatened by a loud noise in a dark alley, even if there is no actual danger present.
This activation leads to physiological changes such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, heightened alertness, dilation of pupils, and redirection of blood flow to muscles, all aimed at enhancing the body's ability to respond to the perceived threat effectively. As a biological organism, our primary evolutionary objective is survival, and this mechanism is focused primarily on that.
In today's society, many situations that trigger the "fight-or-flight" response are not life-threatening or physical in nature. For example, stress from work, interpersonal conflicts, traffic, deadlines or financial worries, can activate a similar stress response without the need for physical confrontation or fleeing. Some individuals may experience frequent or chronic activation of the "fight-or-flight" response due to ongoing stressors, anxiety disorders, trauma, or high-pressure environments. In such cases, the continuous activation of this response can have negative effects on physical and mental health, leading to issues like chronic stress, anxiety disorders, cardiovascular problems, and immune system dysfunction.
This frequent activation undermines our ability to think clearly, which means that in stressful situations our cognitive abilities might be severely impaired. Considering that modern life is stressful pretty much for all of us, it raises the question of how much our cognitive abilities are really in charge of our actions and decisions.
So why are we called 'wise human' rather than 'feeling' or 'sensing' human? It seems that we should have been called “the sensing, feeling and thinking” human, to be true to our evolutionary origins and more accurate in our perception of ourselves.
What do you think? Or better ask, how do you feel about it? (we’re psychotherapists, after all...).
Posted in: April 1, 2024
