Cognitive Performance Under Pressure: Brain Fog, Hormones and High-Stakes Decisions

Miah Hammond-Errey — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +1100

In the inaugural episode of Cognitive Edge, Dr Miah Hammond-Errey is joined by Dr Caroline Gurvich—Deputy Director of HER Centre Australia at Monash University and one of Australia’s leading experts on cognition, hormones and women’s mental health. Drawing on decades of clinical and research experience, Gurvich unpacks what cognition really is: not just memory or attention, but a dynamic interaction between thinking, emotion, physiology and environment. This conversation will help improve your understanding of “brain fog”, stress and cognitive load–and what to do about them–from a neuropsychology lens.

This episode delivers a critical insight for leaders, professionals and policymakers alike: subjective cognitive struggle does not necessarily mean objective cognitive decline. Gurvich explains why many women experience cognitive disruption during hormonal transitions—particularly perimenopause—while objective performance often remains intact, and why confidence, perception and support matter just as much as raw capability. Listeners will also gain practical strategies to protect cognitive performance under pressure and in high stakes environments, understand how hormones interact with sleep, emotion and decision-making, and prepare cognitively for high-stakes environments shaped by information overload and emerging technologies.

Link to HER Centre: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/her-centre

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Cognitive Performance and Health

03:20 Foundations of Good Cognitive Health

05:56 The Role of Emotions in Decision Making

08:52 Hormones and Cognition: An Overview

12:09 Menopause and Cognitive Changes

12:53 Subjective vs. Objective Cognitive Performance

15:30 The Impact of Sleep on Cognition

18:31 Research Insights on Estrogen and Brain Function

21:42 Cognitive Load and Measurement Techniques

24:26 Technology's Impact on Cognition

27:24 Tips for Maintaining Cognitive Performance

29:21 Lifestyle Factors for Cognitive Health

31:53 Practical Strategies for Cognitive Optimisation

33:09 Cognitive Preparation for High-Stakes Environments

36:03 Eye Tracking and Cognitive Research

39:50 The Impact of Hormones on Cognition

41:34 Future Directions in Hormones and Cognition

42:41 Improving Cognitive Function on Low Days