Amy Arnsten is a professor of neurobiology at the Yale School of Medicine. Her research on molecular changes in the prefrontal cortex during stress and aging has led to treatments such as prazosin and guanfacine for post-traumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and other conditions.
Everyday Stress Can Shut Down the Brain’s Chief Command Center
Neural circuits responsible for conscious self-control are highly vulnerable to even mild stress. When they shut down, primal impulses go unchecked, and mental paralysis sets in