El cerebro estresado y su implicación en el comportamiento desadaptativo durante la pandemia por COVID-19

Fernando Gordillo León

doi:10.33776/amc.v49i180.7591

Fernando Gordillo León Universidad de Salamanca

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33776/amc.v49i180.7591

Palabras clave:

Amígdala, Cognición, Corteza prefrontal, Emergencia, Salud pública, Comportamiento social

Resumen

Los seres humanos se enfrentan a diario a situaciones estresantes ante las que deben responder con eficacia para sobrevivir y adaptarse al entorno. Sin embargo, la elevada intensidad y persistencia del estresor, como sucedió durante la pandemia del COVID-19, podría tener un efecto negativo sobre la neurología, cognición y conducta de las personas. Estructuras como la amígdala y la corteza prefrontal se ven afectadas por el estrés agudo y persistente, siendo la base explicativa de las actitudes y conductas desadaptativas que ocurren en situaciones de emergencia. Procesos como la latencia entre el estrés y la toma de decisiones, la reevaluación cognitiva, y la imitación, todos dependientes de la corteza prefrontal y la amígdala, permiten explicar la rápida difusión de las fake news, el negacionismo, y las compras compulsivas durante la pandemia del COVID-19. A partir del análisis realizado de la información, se pueden establecer unas pautas de abordaje, basadas en los conocimientos neurocognitivos, con las que afrontar situaciones de emergencia: 1) Monitorear el nivel de estrés poblacional; 2) Gestionar la información trasmitida (intensidad/frecuencia); 3) Evitar contradicciones informativas (incertidumbre); 4) Promover modelos de imitación; 5) Establecer sistemas de ayuda a grupos vulnerables; 6) Facilitar el ocio controlado.

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