The negative impact of stress on our working memory can be the same as this after “physical” damages.

Life experiences change the length and complexity of our brain cells. Chronic daily stress affect neurons in two different areas of the rat brain.

What does the chronic stress cause?
Decreased performance in tasks that require attention. Working memory is” angry”. Stressed rats need more time to catch on to a new pattern in an experimental task.

The prefrontal cortex is typically involved in working memory. And sure enough, neurons in the stressed rats in the medial prefrontal cortex were shorter and had less branching than those in the control rats.
As an effect – decreased performance of working memory has been observed after lesions, brain damages.

So, suppose we allow ourselves to be under prolonged stress. The negative impact of stress on our working memory can be the same as this after “physical” damages.

Is any other area of the brain affected by stress?
What is interesting, neurons in orbital frontal cortex in stressed rats were longer and more branched! This area of the brain is responsible for modifying behaviour.

Because of the negative impact on prefrontal cortex, prolonged stress can lead to impulsive,
even violent behaviour, increased anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug abuse etc.

So, take it easy. We don't want impulsive, depressive or angry abusers  

Read more:
http://newswire.rockefeller.edu/index.php?page=engine&id=545

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