ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Effects of stress on memory

Hey there kiddo, do you know what stress is? It's when you feel worried, nervous or scared about something. And did you know that stress can also affect your memory?

You see, our brain has two important parts- the hippocampus and the amygdala. The hippocampus helps us to remember things like names, numbers, and places while the amygdala is responsible for our emotions like fear and anxiety.

When we feel stressed, our body releases a hormone called cortisol which can affect the function of our hippocampus. This can make it harder to remember things we learned earlier or store new information.

Also, when we are feeling anxious or worried, our attention is focused on that particular thing rather than what we are trying to learn or remember. This means that we may miss important information which can affect our memory.

However, it's not all bad news, kiddo. Some studies have shown that moderate levels of stress can actually help us remember things better- like an important phone number or a date to remember. It's when we experience too much stress that it can negatively impact our memory.

So, it's important to try and manage our stress levels- like taking breaks, doing something relaxing or talking to someone we trust. This can help us have a better memory and feel better overall.