Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

For my science project, my topic is How Stress Affects the Brain. I have done a bit of research relating to it, but I'm still not sure what experiment to conduct. I want the experiment to be practical, but I have a good amount of time and access to tools. Any ideas?

Hi there,

I think you need to consider what sort of things you can test in terms of brains function in order to come up with a project, also how many subjects you will have access to and how will you induce or define stress?

Here is an interesting review of stress research: http://www.usc.edu/projects/matherlab/p ... ll2012.pdf

You will have to come up with a defined way to produce "stress" in your subjects and then decide how to measure their responses afterwards. Make them take a test perhaps? Answer questions, solve a puzzle, memorize a list? Check out the review I linked and see what you think.

Cheers,
Colin

Hi neuro369,

This is a very interesting project idea, and Colin has already given you some great feedback. I agree that you need to determine two important things: (1) what will be the "stress" for your subjects and (2) how you will measure the effect on the brain.

I think you can use the ideas from this project to decide how to measure the effect on the brain: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p011.shtml

Maybe you can alter the stress level by having your subjects perform the memory test in a very short time (stressed) and with no time limit (control).

I hope this helps you get started. Please post again (in this same thread) if you have more questions.

Heather