brain structure that stores our memories and links them to each other (the hippocampus) is very densely populated with sensors that detect stress hormones. If the hippocampus registers large amounts of such hormones, the brain cuts back the level of activity there. After all, if you are running away from a wild animal, you don’t need to waste energy remembering which plants you pass by. During stressful times in our lives, we develop a kind of tunnel vision—to enable us to direct our attention to the problem at hand.
