Principlev1
Design stress defaults to be physically simple rather than
Design stress defaults to be physically simple rather than cognitively sophisticated, as acute stress degrades prefrontal function making executive-dependent responses unavailable precisely when needed.
Why This Is a Principle
Derives from Directed Attention as Depletable Resource (executive function is finite and depletes), The prefrontal cortex requires time to override limbic (prefrontal cortex requires time to override limbic responses), and Under acute stress, the prefrontal cortex degrades in (acute stress degrades prefrontal function). This is a clear prescriptive principle about stress response design that applies across all stress contexts. It follows directly from the architectural constraint that the very capacity needed for complex responses is disabled by stress.