Physiological Psychology
Ted Talk Assignment: Positive and
Negative Effects of Stress
Assignment: Ted Talks
· How Stress Affects Your
Brain and
· How to Make Stress Your
Friend
Description of Video 1: How Stress Affects Your Brain
“Stress
isn’t always a bad thing; it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and
focus, like when you’re playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public.
But when it’s continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Madhumita
Murgia shows how chronic stress can affect brain size, its structure, and how
it functions, right down to the level of your genes.” (Time: 4:01)
Description of Video 2: How to Make Stress Your Friend
“Stress. It makes your heart pound, your
breathing quicken, and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into
a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for
you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us
to see stress as a positive and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress
reduction: reaching out to others.” (Time:
14:17)
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to introduce you to a relevant and
interesting topic related to physiological psychology that expands on the
content covered in the text.
Knowledge: You will learn about how chronic stress can affect
your brain and potentially how to start thinking about stress as a positive
experience.
Skills: You will summarize information, practice writing skills, and engage in
critical thinking.
Task:
Listen to the two Ted Talks and answer the following
questions. Once you have completed the worksheet, enter the answers in the Positive and Negative
Effects of Stress under quizzes.
Watch
the video “How Stress Affects Your Brain” (click here to
access the video or use the link provided at the bottom of the assignment). Use
the information from the video and from your text (regarding the functions of
the brain structures) to answer the following questions.
1. According
to the video, what are three ways that chronic stress can affect your brain?
2. What
is HPA an acronym for?
3. What
is the function of the HPA axis?
4. What
is the main function of the amygdala?
5. How
does chronic stress affect the amygdala?
6. What
are the main functions of the hippocampus?
7. How
does chronic stress affect the hippocampus? (Note: Not the functions of the
hippocampus.)
8. What
are the main functions of the prefrontal cortex?
9. How
does chronic stress affect the prefrontal cortex?
10. __________
changes affect which genes are expressed without directly changing the genetic
code.
11. Epigenetic
changes, such as those associated with stress, can be inherited by subsequent
generations.
·
True or False
12. According
to the video, what are two ways to reduce stress?
Watch
the video “How to Make Stress Your Friend” (click here to
access the video or use the link provided at the bottom of the assignment). Use
the information from the video to answer the following questions.
13. In the
video, Dr. McGonigal describes a study conducted at Harvard University where
participants were told to think about their stress and the associated physiological
changes, such as increased heart rate and breathing, as helpful and preparing
them to meet a challenge, and then they were put through a stress task. How did
thinking positively about stress affect participants’ anxiety and confidence?
14. How
does stress normally affect blood vessels?
15. How
did stress affect the blood vessels of participants in the Harvard study?
16. What
neurohormone, which is produced in response to stress, motivates you to seek
support?
17. In the
last study described in the video, the researchers found that experiencing a
major life stressor increased the risk of dying by 30% in general. In the group
of participants who reported helping others in their community, how did a major
life stressor affect their risk of dying?
=================================================================
·
After you answer the questions below, copy and
paste the questions (18-22) and answers to the appropriate discussion board.
·
You will also need to respond to someone else’s
post on this topic. See the discussion board for details about the response.
18. In a
few sentences, what would you tell your friends about what you learned from
these two videos? (Specifically talk about each video.)
19. What activities
do you engage in to reduce stress?
20. Name
one or more things that you will commit to doing three times in the next
week to reduce your stress.
21. Name
one thing that you will commit to doing to help others in the next week?
Link:
How
Stress Affects Your Brain:
https://www.ted.com/talks/madhumita_murgia_how_stress_affects_your_brain#t-239259
(4:00)
How to Make Stress Your Friend
https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend/discussion#t-639547
Important
Reminder:
Avoid plagiarism –
All work that you submit is expected to reflect your own effort. The work you
turn in should not duplicate the work of anyone else (e.g., copying from or
collaborating with a fellow student or failing to acknowledge someone else’s
work, as in plagiarism). If you violate KSU policies regarding academic
honesty, you will receive a zero for the work, you may receive an F in the
course, and I will pursue formal judicial recourse. Do not quote
from the sources that you use. Use your own words to explain the information.
If you encounter difficulty in understanding the material, please see me for
assistance.