<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article may be too technical for most readers to understand . Please help improve it to make it understandable to non-experts, without removing the technical details . (January 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article may be too technical for most readers to understand . Please help improve it to make it understandable to non-experts, without removing the technical details . (January 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> The effects of stress on memory include interference with a person's capacity to encode memory and the ability to retrieve information . During times of stress, the body reacts by secreting stress hormones into the bloodstream . Stress can cause acute and chronic changes in certain brain areas which can cause long - term damage . Over-secretion of stress hormones most frequently impairs long - term delayed recall memory, but can enhance short - term, immediate recall memory . This enhancement is particularly relative in emotional memory . In particular, the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and the amygdala are affected . One class of stress hormone responsible for negatively affecting long - term, delayed recall memory is the glucocorticoids (GCs), the most notable of which is cortisol . Glucocorticoids facilitate and impair the actions of stress in the brain memory process . Cortisol is a known biomarker for stress . Under normal circumstances, the hippocampus regulates the production of cortisol through negative feedback because it has many receptors that are sensitive to these stress hormones . However, an excess of cortisol can impair the ability of the hippocampus to both encode and recall memories . These stress hormones are also hindering the hippocampus from receiving enough energy by diverting glucose levels to surrounding muscles . </P>

Lack of sleep can be both a cause and effect of excess stress