Brain under stress and decision making

Under stress, the brain stops listening to the prefrontal cortex responsible for long-term decision making and goal pursuit. This shutdown in stress restricts access to planning ahead, processing consequences, and logical thinking. Instead, stress triggers emotional and instinctual decision making similar to the effects of excessive alcohol consumption. In survival situations, the body releases stress chemicals to prompt fast action rather than slow and methodical reasoning to ensure immediate response to danger.

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