Heated discussions with work colleagues and tight deadlines can undermine memory and learning, according to new research.
Researchers found chemicals released in response to acute stress undermined communication between brain cells involved in the formation and processing of memories.
While previous studies have demonstrated that increased production of certain hormones caused by stress over periods of weeks, months and years can damage recall abilities, the new research suggests that one-off stressful situations can have the same effect.
Lead author Dr Tallie Baram, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Irvine, said: "Stress is a constant in our lives and cannot be avoided.
"Our findings can play an important role in the current development of drugs that might prevent these undesirable effects, and offer insights into why some people are forgetful or have difficulty retaining information during stressful situations."
Previous studies have focused on the role of the stress hormone cortisol in undermining memory.
In their study, Dr Baram and colleagues found in animal experiments that acute stress stimulates the release of a chemical called corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH).
Junctions between brain cells - called synapses - are crucial to the processes of memory collection and storage.
The researchers, whose study is published in the this month's Journal of Neuroscience, observed that stress-induced release of CRH in the hippocampus, the brain's primary learning and memory centre, led to the rapid disintegration of branch-like protrusions from brain cells on which synapses are located. They found this undermined the memories of rats and mice.
In further research Dr Baram found that blocking the action of CRH molecules prevented the damage to learning and memory associated with stress.
He said the work could help drug companies develop treatments to combat stress-related learning and memory loss by blocking the receptors that normally allow them to interact with cells.
Last month researchers at University College London published a study showing stressed employees are two thirds more likely to suffer cardiovascular disease.
They found repeated release of stress hormones can reduce heart rate variability - the heart's natural defence mechanism against stress.
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I think that stressful events and scenarios *can* be avoided, to a degree. I recently changed departments at my job and have found my stress levels to be significantly reduced as a result of no longer working under my previous boss. But what has stayed the same is stress related to how the organization and our systems are structured.
But aside from the obvious of working to avoid stressful events in the first place, isn't there some wiggle room in how we perceive events as they happen to us? Isn't it possible to alter your view on things and have the stress associated with that event reduced?