Which aspect of cognition is particularly affected by chronic stress?

Chronic stress significantly impacts memory and attention due to the way stress hormones, such as cortisol, affect brain function. Prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol can lead to alterations in the hippocampus, an area of the brain crucial for forming new memories and retrieving existing ones. This can result in difficulties with both working memory, which is essential for holding information temporarily, and long-term memory, which is involved in storing information over time.

Additionally, chronic stress can impair attention, making it harder to focus on tasks or filter out distractions. This dual impact on memory and attention illustrates how ongoing stress can disrupt cognitive processes essential for daily functioning, learning, and decision-making. While other choices like creative thinking, social interaction skills, and emotional regulation can also be affected by stress, the connection between chronic stress and memory and attention has been extensively validated in cognitive psychology research.