What effect does stress have on memory function?

The correct choice highlights how stress can lead to oversimplification in decision-making and a phenomenon known as stress-related regression. When individuals experience high levels of stress, their cognitive processes can become impaired. This might manifest as a tendency to oversimplify complex information or backtrack to simpler, less effective strategies that may have worked in the past.

Stress tends to cause a narrowing of attention and can detract from the ability to retrieve more complex details from memory, leading to a regression where one relies on more basic, less nuanced thought processes. This is particularly relevant in high-pressure situations such as those encountered in aviation, where the ability to think critically and adaptively is crucial for safety and performance.

In contrast to the correct answer, the other options suggest outcomes of stress on memory that do not align with established psychological research. For instance, stress generally does not improve accuracy or enhance learning speed; instead, it can disrupt these processes. While some moderate stress might facilitate recall in certain situations, excessive or chronic stress tends to be detrimental to overall memory function and cognitive performance.