Stress isn't always a bad thing; it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and focus, like when you're playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public. But when it's continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Madhumita Murgia shows how chronic stress can affect brain size, its structure, and how it functions, right down to the level of your genes. [Directed by Andrew Zimbelman, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Josh Smoak]. 

Madhumita Murgia: How stress affects your brain

How stress affects your brain

Chronic stress rewires the brain, enlarging the amygdala and shrinking the prefrontal cortex, impairing decision-making and memory.

Excessive cortisol from stress can lead to brain shrinkage, affecting behaviors and setting the stage for depression and Alzheimer's.

Exercise and meditation combat stress, enhancing the hippocampus to improve memory and control stress, offering a pathway to resilience.