Stress is implicated in physical and psychological health problems. In 2004, Sapolsky noted that disruptions of homeostasis cause a negative stress-response, which leads to related diseases. In this study, interest is focused on the physiological effects of stress, and subsequently how social stress, as a robust factor for physiological reactivity, affects cognitive performance. A well-known paradigm to induce acute social stress is the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST), which includes a timed speech and math task in front of evaluators. This study investigated psychological and physiological influences of social stress on cognitive performance for college students, comparing levels of freshman to seniors. In conclusion, no correlations were verified however trends appeared to exist.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Copeland, Brian
• Leach, Brad Steven
• Cyran, Adam J
• Perkins, Daniel

Subject

• Well-Being
• Health
• Learning
• Community

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-032617-233650

Keyword

• Mental health

Advisor

• O'Brien, Kymberlee M.

Year

• 2017

Date created

• 2017-03-26

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-01-08