A Research Proposal on the Impact of Anxiety on Memory (Research Paper Sample)

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON THE IMPACT OF ANXIETY ON MEMORY
Abstract
Researchers continue to explore links regarding the impact of anxiety on memory with varied results. While the brain operates using different memory systems including long-term memory, and working memory both of which help to achieve varied tasks, the impact of anxiety and its resultant disorders on the working memory remains a significant concern. This research study seeks to establish the effects of anxiety on working memory, and how it inhibits brain functionality. To achieve this fete, the study will pursue an experimental research design targeted to determine the relationship between anxiety and working memory. Subjects with varying levels of anxiety, including General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and Agoraphobia among others. The study intends to make recommendations on how to limit the effects of anxiety on working memory.
Introduction
While anxiety is largely perceived as a normal mental reaction to stress, excessive amounts of the same can result in the advancement of anxiety disorders that may portend significant mental consequences. Research studies indicate that up to 30% of all adults experience varying levels of mental disorders linked to anxiety thereby highlighting the significance of an enhanced understanding of anxiety. Working memory is an important facilitator of cognitive function (Oberauer, 2019). This makes it crucially important in problem-solving, and the real-time processing of information. While anxiety generally heightens individual sensitivity to perceived dangerous or unfamiliar situations, its impact on the brain and how it retrieves memory can be varied (Huntley et al., 2017). Some of the responses that anxiety triggers in the brain include being hyperactive to threats and a diminished capacity for rational reasoning resulting from memory impairment.
Literature Review
Research studies in the field of psychology have explored various links between anxiety and working memory with mixed results. In a study geared to determine the link between anxiety and working memory capacity. Moran (2016) established a moderate yet reliable link between higher anxiety levels and a diminished working memory capacity among subjects. While the study concentrated its scrutiny on a single measure of the working memory, all indications pointed to an inverse relationship between the variables under scrutiny. An increase in one aspect resulted in an automatic decline in the other. Secondly, according to a study published on Brain Science, the effects of anxiety on the working memory of individuals without clinically significant anxiety levels vary from those who may require clinical attention (Waris, et al., 2017). In the study, it is evident that the memory levels of participants did not differ based on their anxiety levels. However, subjects with comparatively higher anxiety levels seemed merely attached to memories with higher emotional connotations. Consequently, the study suggests that individuals who experience high anxiety levels are alert to incidences that they perceive to be uncomfortable.
The two research studies provide significant insight into the relationship between anxiety and working memory. Cognitive function remains a critical element in the determination of the efficacy of the working memory. While the test subjects considered for the first study fell under the category of self-reported state anxiety, additional studies suggest a uniform pattern among others with different forms of anxiety (Moran, 2016). According to the attentional control theory, anxiety impairs cognitive function by disrupting the stimulus-driven attentional system (Waris, et al., 2017). The higher the degree of disruption, the greater the impact on cognitive function. To effectively determine the influence of anxiety on working memory, this research study intends to utilize cognitive function indicators among respondents as a measure of the impact of anxiety on their working memory. The study also seeks to select a diverse range of respondents with varying levels of anxiety disorders to improve the quality of results yielded during the process. Importantly, the research study intends to answer the question of whether anxiety influences working memory or otherwise.
Research Methodology