The Simple Neuroscience of Stress and Learning

Most of us have been told that stress is bad—but what if that’s only half the story? In this eye-opening interview, Natalie breaks down the science behind stress and how it can actually help improve your learning. We dive into the difference between acute stress (good!) and chronic stress (bad!), and how managing your cortisol levels can enhance memory retention.

Natalie, a Life Science specialization student at Queen’s University and Data and Research Study Consultant at Untapped Learning, shares practical strategies for using short bursts of stress to improve studying while avoiding burnout during high-pressure periods like midterms and finals.

Brandon, Untapped Learning’s Founder, and Natalie also discuss why structured rest is just as important as focused study sessions, and how successful students in high-achieving environments balance work and fun.

If you’ve ever felt like anxiety is holding you back, this conversation will change how you approach stress forever. Don’t let stress work against you—learn how to make it work FOR you!

This interview was hosted by Brandon Slade, Founder of Untapped Learning, and filmed/edited/produced by Nathan Weinberg, Head Videographer.

Want to dive deeper? Here are FREE resources to learn more about the stress + rest = growth model:

Stress + Rest = Growth Model (for parents): https://untappedlearning.com/stress-rest-growth/

Stress + Rest = Growth Model (for educators): https://untappedlearning.com/stress-rest-growth-the-importance-of-rest-for-learning/

Journal of Neuroscience Study: https://www.jneurosci.org/content/43/43/7198

If you or your student are interested in learning more about what Untapped Learning has to offer, visit us at:

Website: https://untappedlearning.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untappedlearning