In this episode I have on Dr. Amy Arnsten from Yale School of Medicine to talk about how stress is impacting our brains—particularly the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for higher brain function—planning, rationality, decision-making, etc. Stress actually has both an immediate and long-term effect to brain function depending on exposure. This alone can exacerbate symptoms of mental illness. Plus, her lab discovered a drug that aids in prefrontal cortical function (by the end of this episode that will mean something to you). Also, I have a PSA in the beginning of the show to anyone who thinks they want to call dibs on their preferred gender on a night out. 

 

Dr. Amy Arnsten shares more information regarding our conversation today here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_mqP7P-azU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BUNI1UHs8E