Poor memory? Stress + cortisol weaken existing brain connections!

Ever notice how you can’t remember where your keys are when you’re stressed? (and maybe it’s getting harder to remember in general?!) The more frequently you activate your stress-response, the smaller your brain’s “hippocampus” becomes- a key area for forming explicit memories. Cortisol and related stress hormones weaken existing synaptic (brain) connections in the hippocampus and inhibit new ones!

Stress stops new neurons from being formed in the hippocampus and as new memories rely on new neurons in the hippocampus, the more stress we foster, the harder it is to form new memories. 

Now... what did I have for lunch???