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The Neuroscience of Decision-Making Under Stress

Presented by Marlo Lyons

(3,616 Ratings)

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Course Description

Length: 1h 3min Published: 9/15/2025

This dynamic and compelling presentation explores how chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and substance use systematically impair the brain's prefrontal cortex—the hub of ethical reasoning, memory, and judgment. Drawing on her experience as an executive coach, former entertainment lawyer, and HR executive, Marlo breaks down how overwhelmed legal professionals mirror the cognitive patterns of the intoxicated, even without a drink, which can lead to impulsivity, emotional reactivity, and ethical risk. Through powerful visualizations, science-backed insights, and practical techniques like box breathing, cognitive reappraisal, and decision resets, Marlo empowers her audience to identify early signs of impairment, reclaim executive functioning, and build cognitive resilience in high-pressure environments.

Learning Objectives

* Understanding the neurological impact of chronic stress, lack of sleep and substance abuse on decision-making and legal reasoning

* Recognize the cognitive impairments associated with stress, sleep deprivation, alcohol, and stimulant use

* Detect early signs of impaired performance in yourself and your colleagues

* Apply science backed techniques to enhance cognitive clarity and resilience under pressure

Read the course transcript.

Speaker Q&A

Question

Regarding your sleep comments, wouldn't undiagnosed sleep apnea also have a similar impact?

- BradleyR

Answer

I would say anything that interrupts sleep and doesn’t allow you to get a full night sleep with the cycles of deep, rem, light and awake at the normal benchmarks (for you that a sleep study doctor could tell you) could impact your capabilities.

- Marlo Lyons