The focus of the project titled 'Effects of Stress on Memory Performance in Latinx Populations' is to better understand the impact that chronic stress has on computational processes present in Alzheimers memory loss, specifically investigating pattern seperation from a lure discrimination index. The goal of the study is to identify whether despite the generalizability of the stimuli, whether there are cross-cultural differences in memory performance and whether stress is a factor to consider.

Past research has shown that Alzheimers is most impacted my a loss of episodic memory. In order for episodic memory to be successful, there is a computational process known as pattern separation that reduces the interferences between overlapping stimuli. There are memory tasks known as Mnemonic Discrimination Tasks (MDT) that tap into pattern separation in laboratory settings by using lure images that have similar and overlapping traces, but they are different images. Stress has been shown to negatively impact separation patterns. For a consideration of ethnic difference, Latinx show that they experience significantly higher levels of stress and in turn are most negatively impacted in memory. However, the question arises regarding how cultural differences impact memory performance specifically in target recognition and lure discrimination index. As well as understanding whether relevant risk factors such as stress impact memory performance in Latinx individuals relative to non-Latinx. In this research study, we collected foreign-born Latinx, US-born Latinx, and non-Latinx and asked them to provide hair samples for hair cortisol collection, asked them to complete the encoding phase of the MDT, followed by a delay period where we asked participants to complete stress-related questionnaires. Finally, concluding this part of the research study with the retrieval phase of the MDT. 

In this research study, I was responsible for running participants where I prepared materials before participant arrival such as saliva collection tubes, hair cutting materials for hair cortisol analysis, neuropsychological tests, survey questionnaires, and the experimental paradigm. When preparing for saliva collection tubes, I asked participants to rinse their mouth in the sink and placed a cotton swab underneath the participants tongue for a minute, which was then stored in the tube and placed in a cooled refrigerator for send-off to later analysis. The purpose in collecting saliva samples was for genetic testing of Alzheimers. I was also responsible for collecting hair samples, where I asked participants to provide 1in/3cm of hair from the crown of their head, which I cut and then stored in a pre-coordinated aluminum foil and envelope for send-off to later analysis. For the neuropsychological test, I administered these both in English and Spanish including:  Multilingual Naming Test (MINT Sprint), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Trails Making Test (TMT) Parts A & B, Digit Span Forward and Backward, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and d2 Test of Attention. Aside from running participants, I was responsible for organizing, transferring, and analyzing data of about 100 participants. I performed statistical analysis on this data, such as independent sample t-test, simple ANOVA's, and correlation test through the JASP statistical software. Once this was completed I used graph prism to create graphs of the data for presentation of research findings. Apart form data analysis, I was also responsible for drafting the manuscript of our research study and presenting a 15-minute oral presentation.