Is storytelling the key to gaining agency over our response to our memories?
Storytelling.
A human constant; our way of making sense of our lived experiences.
Memory.
A living, self-curated record of our lives, more malleable than we might expect.
The COVID-19 Pandemic.
A sudden global trauma that we’ve all had to reckon with this past year.
What’s Next?
How will we learn from the pandemic, and how might we live a little differently than before?
Experimental Set-Up
Heart Rate
Heart rate was measured using the iHealth wireless pulse oximeter.
Skin Conductance
Skin conductance was measured via a biosensor called The Pip.
Perceived Stress
Study participants were asked to rate their perceived stress levels during each memory recall via a short survey.
Participants were asked to silently recall a stressful, pandemic-related memory. They were then asked to re-structure that memory into a verbal story, and to recall it once more afterwards.
During each memory recall, the participants’ heart rate and skin conductance response were recorded to determine their overall stress levels. They were also asked to self-report their perceived stress levels during each memory recall.