DEBUNKED: Brain Functions Better Under Pressure

Students typically stay up late, cramming for an exam or working on a paper. Even though this behavior can make them stressed, people rationalize it by saying, “I work better under pressure.” However, this statement is completely false–your brain actually performs worse! Let's break down this myth by explaining what happens to our brains under pressure and the harm it causes. 

Behind the Scenes Of Our Brain Under Pressure

When we feel stressed, there are many parts of our brain that play a role. The amygdala is involved in fear and aggression responses.⁽¹⁾ Think of it as our internal alarm system that scans for threats in our environment. The threats can be determined from life-or-death (like being chased) or even a passive-aggressive text. 

Threats cause an activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This can cause an increase in heart rate and breathing.

After a threat is detected and a situation is interpreted as stressful, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated.⁽²⁾  We can think of this system as the heating system in a house. As someone sets the temperature for their house, our body has homeostasis or a balanced state. The hypothalamus regulates the autonomic nervous system, which then activates the sympathetic nervous system and our fight or flight response.⁽³⁾ This activation can increase our heart rate and breathing as well as make our muscles tense.  This brain area is similar to a thermostat that can sense when the environment is too cold or hot. Afterward, the hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary gland, which then signals the adrenal glands.⁽²⁾  To continue the analogy, the pituitary gland is similar to the relay switch or the wiring, while the adrenal glands are the furnace that produces heat to warm the house to reach the ideal temperature. 

The adrenal glands trigger secretions of stress hormones. There are 2 classes of these hormones: glucocorticoids and catecholamines.⁽²⁾ Glucocorticoids are called “cortisol” in humans, which regulates our body’s response to stress. It ensures that we have enough energy to survive the threat by making us alert and slowing nonessential functions.⁽³⁾ Catecholamines are known as adrenaline in humans and increase our heart rate and blood pressure to cope with the situation at hand.⁽¹⁾ After the threat is removed, a signal is sent back to lower the cortisol levels to return to homeostasis. 

Why the Myth Is Harmful (Beyond Just Being Wrong)

This myth being spread has a variety of consequences. Experiencing chronic stress and the release of adrenaline and cortisol for prolonged periods can physically alter your brain! The amygdala increases in size and becomes more active, which can result in hypervigilance and perceiving the world as dangerous.⁽³⁾  

The brain areas affected can impact functions such as memory or decision-making. The hippocampus is a brain area that plays an important role in learning and memory as detecting threats can be influenced by their previous encounters. It has a large number of receptors for glucocorticoids and modulates the release of those hormones within the HPA axis—thus plays a role in stress-related psychiatric disorders.⁽⁴⁾ For instance, combat veterans had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had smaller hippocampal volume, which resulted in verbal memory deficits such as difficulty remembering facts or lists.⁽⁴⁾ The prefrontal cortex, the decision-making part of our brain, can be weakened due to stress. This can result in the inability to control our impulsive actions and difficulty focusing.⁽¹⁾ The deterioration of these functions can impact many areas in life, including academic performance.    

Although it should be advised to minimize stress in one’s life, there are times in life when this isn’t possible. Therefore, different practices should be incorporated in your routine to help regulate one’s brain and reaction to stress. For instance, mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce the size of the amygdala and strengthen the prefrontal cortex.⁽²⁾ Additionally, exercise can enhance memory and reduce cortisol.⁽²⁾ Though most importantly, remember to take a break and don’t stress, so your brain doesn’t crack under pressure! 

Sources:

1. McEwen (2022) Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators: central role of the brain

2. Lupien et al. (2007) The effects of stress and stress hormones on human cognition: Implications for the field of brain and cognition

3. Tuhin (2025) Your Brain on Stress: What’s Really Happening Inside

Bremner (1999) Does stress damage the brain?