Stress Can Boost Your Memory Powers

Researchers have found that stressing over something can help you remember it better.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on May 04 2011

Have you ever spent all night studying for a difficult test? It may not have been pleasant to step into the classroom with bags under your eyes and jitters from non-stop caffeine inhalation, but chances are, you did better on the exam than you ever would have expected. As it turns out, stressing out can give you a serious memory boost.

Scientists at the University of Bristol found that stress hormones like cortisol and adrenalin cause changes in the functioning of the genes inside of the brain’s neurons, which enhances their ability to store memories.

“It seems like the stress hormones bind to specific receptors in our brains that enhance the control of the epigenetic mechanisms that are involved in learning and memory,” said neurologist Hans Reul, who led the research team.

“They boost these epigenetic control mechanisms and this leads to an enhanced expression of the genes that play a role in leaning and memory.”

“So essentially the stress hormones are enhancing the process that is normally taking place when you are learning.”

However, be careful not to get too worked up over a test or presentation, or the overload of stress will have the opposite affect. “The brain goes into an override mode and so the memory formation is not efficient,” said Reul.

Bottom line? The occasional all-nighter may boost your brain power—but turn it into a regular occurrence and you’re likely to see your performance go down the drain.

Filed under: Health and Wellbeing,

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