Design
Aim
To investigate the relationship of the human nervous system, human
endocrine system with the external stimuli and response of the body
Research
Question
1.
What is the relationship between the human nervous system and the
human endocrine system?
2. How does the
external stimulation affect one’s heart rate and blood pressure?
3.
Does the stimulation of shock affect the body more than disgust?
Hypothesis
Sudden stimuli triggering emotions will temporarily change one’s
heart rate and blood pressure
While
exposed to different stimuli’s, the human nervous system sends different
signals stimulating emotions as a response to the brain that will activate
specific parts of the brain which causes the secretion of specific hormones,
temporarily manipulating the behaviour of the body to cope with the brain.
Variables
|
Variables
|
Reasons/ Ways of fulfilling
|
|
Volume of
the video
|
-
A
suitable volume must be used to provide the right environment to trigger the
emotions
-
The
volume is set at 40% loudness, enough to trigger reaction, yet not hurting
the ears
|
|
Types of
video
|
-
Different
videos stimulating different response are tested on the subject
-
Three
videos were used in this experiment:
“Scary Video That Will Make You
Jump II” which involves a sudden jump scare that triggers a shock effect on
the subject
“Brain Time (The Most
Disgusting Video on Youtube)” and
“Happy Tree Friends : Eyes Cold Lemonade (Ep #33)” which involves mild and disgusting
scenarios triggering disgust and stress
|
|
Change in
heart rate and blood pressure
|
-
The
initial heart rate and blood pressure is measured first with the heart
monitor and the heart monitor is activated 10 seconds before the jump scare
to obtain the accurate reading before the heart rate and blood pressure
returns to normal.
|
Apparatus
1.
1 Caring heart monitor
2. 1 Laptop
3. 1 set of noise
isolated earphones
4.
Internet for video streaming
Procedure
Scary Video
1.
Measure the initial heart rate of the respondents
2. Without
being aware of the jump scare in the video, play the video under the conditions
of:
·
Played with noise isolated earphones
·
40% volume
3. Start the
heart monitor 10 seconds before the jump scare to allow the heart monitor (at
1:00 where the jump scare is on 1:10) to include the sudden change of the heart
rate
4. Take the
final reading
5.
Record and analyse data
Disgusting
Video
1. Measure the
initial heart rate of the respondents
2. The
respondents are shown the two videos under the conditions of:
·
Played with noise isolated earphones
·
40% volume
3. Start the
heart monitor at the middle of the video to measure the average heart rate
throughout the video
4. Take the
final reading
5. Record and
analyse data
Safety Precautions
1. All
respondents are above the age of 15 to ensure maturity to handle the extreme
conditions
2. Music volume
is adjusted so that ears will not be harmed
Data
Overview
The data will be recorded with tables to boost the effectiveness
of the retrieving of data. Graphs and charts will be used to analyse the data
recorded used to spot patterns and trends. Pictures are also included to
describe the situation and conditions during the experiment.
Experiment- Scary video clip
|
Respondents
|
Initial
|
After
|
||||
|
|
Systolic (mmHg)
|
Diastolic (mmHg)
|
Heartbeat per min
|
Systolic (mmHg)
|
Diastolic (mmHg)
|
Heartbeat per min
|
|
Mr. Sheggy
|
127
|
81
|
65
|
136
|
92
|
76
|
|
Mavis Gan Ye Lu
|
111
|
79
|
74
|
105
|
83
|
64
|
|
Ms. Ernie
|
132
|
83
|
75
|
125
|
86
|
87
|
|
Cho Yeon Soo
|
109
|
64
|
73
|
*Error*
|
*Error*
|
*Error*
|
Difference in the readings
|
Respondents
|
Systolic (mmHg)
|
Diastolic (mmHg)
|
Heartbeat per min
|
|
Mr. Sheggy
|
9
|
11
|
11
|
|
Mavis Gan Ye Lu
|
-6
|
4
|
-10
|
|
Ms. Ernie
|
-7
|
3
|
12
|
|
Cho Yeon Soo
|
*Error*
|
*Error*
|
*Error*
|
Experiment- Disgusting video clip
|
Respondents
|
Initial
|
After
|
||||
|
|
Systolic (mmHg)
|
Diastolic (mmHg)
|
Heartbeat per min
|
Systolic (mmHg)
|
Diastolic (mmHg)
|
Heartbeat per min
|
|
Kel Chew Suet Li
|
98
|
70
|
102
|
118
|
78
|
113
|
|
Sieh Yong Xin
|
107
|
69
|
84
|
134
|
102
|
110
|
|
Daphne
|
124
|
83
|
89
|
115
|
95
|
109
|
Difference in the readings
|
Respondents
|
Systolic (mmHg)
|
Diastolic (mmHg)
|
Heartbeat per min
|
|
Kel Chew Suet Li
|
20
|
8
|
11
|
|
Sieh Yong Xin
|
27
|
33
|
26
|
|
Daphne
|
9
|
12
|
20
|
Observation: Mr Sheggy has the largest increase of 11mmHg in the experiment,
with Mavis being the second, increased by 4mmHg and alas, Ms’ Ernie with an increase
of 3mmHg. The average increase of diastolic reading in the scary video is
6mmHg.
Observation: Sieh Yong Xin has the largest change with the increase of 33 mmHg,
followed by Daphne with 12 mmHg of increase and alas Kel Chew with 8mmHg of
increase. The average increase of diastolic reading in the disgusting video is
17.6 mmHg.
Data
Analysis
Only graphs on the diastolic readings are
made to be compared due to the errors of the heart rate and pressure in the
scary video experiment as there was a decrease instead of increase.
In the scary video, the amount of increase in
the heart rate of Mr. Sheggy proves that he has the most reaction to the jump
scare, increasing the probability of him watching horror movies frequently due
to the mind’s inability to get use to the conditions.
Yong Xin has been disgusted the most,
increasing the intensity of the signals sent through the nervous system to the
brain, thus triggering stronger reactions. With the same theory, the inability
for the mind to adapt creates stress thus increasing the heart rate.
Both of the experiments involved stress,
where the mind could not cope with the stimuli hence creating a fight or run
response. Primary stress hormones will be secreted which increases the brain
activity to perform faster in decision making, analysing the possible actions
and consequences. [[1]]
These stress hormones, also known as cortisol
(hydrocortisone) will be secreted through the adrenal glands located on the top
of the kidneys once the hypothalamus in the brain receives signals from the
organs. [[2]]
The cortisol is responsible for providing amino and fatty acids to the cell [[3]]
while releasing glucose contained in the muscles to boost the brain
performance. With the release of extra substance into the blood, the volume,
concentration and pressure increases, whilst stimulating the heart to pump
faster to distribute and dilute the blood in the body. However, most secretions
are transported to the legs to allow sudden boosts of energy for escape.
In comparison of both test results, the disgusted
feeling has bought more response to the body than shocked. This is because
shock involves a sudden and instant moments, triggering only short periods of
stimulation while disgust can be found throughout the video; more secretions
are added to the blood due to the longer period of stress.
Error
Analysis
1. The heart
monitor could not measure accurate readings due to the movements of reaction
the test subjects did (Cho Yeon Soo)
2. The external
environment should be controlled
Improvements
1. The
respondents should be given a notice on not to move or talk during the
experiment
2. A room
should be prepared for the respondents instead of going to them
Conclusion
The
hypothesis is approved where stress increases the blood pressure and heart rate
of the body. It is also learnt that the nervous system is a stimuli to activate
the endocrine system after responding to the external stimuli of the body. And
alas, the emotions of disgust had triggered more reaction due to the time the
body is exposed to stress.
Bibliography
1.
“What is
Cortisol, and What Does It Do?” N.p.N.d. web, http://chipur.com/2011/05/05/cortisol-what-you-need-to-know-and-why/
No comments:
Post a Comment