Me
Author: Nolen Bruffett | Major: Psychology | Semester: Fall 2024
Hello! My name is Nolen Bruffett, and I’m a Psychology major in the Honors College at the University of Arkansas. This semester, I’ve been working with Dr. Grant Shields to study how acute stress affects our ability to forget certain memories—a process known as inhibition-induced forgetting. Throughout this project, I’ve learned a great deal about coming up with applicable research paradigms, analyzing data, and writing in an academic style. I’m excited to share my experience and explain how it’s helping me prepare for medical school.
In a nutshell, my research examines how stress changes the way our brains manage what we remember and what we forget. Specifically, I focus on inhibition-induced forgetting, the idea that our brains sometimes actively suppress certain memories, making them harder to recall later. This suppression can be intentional—like when we try to push embarrassing or traumatic thoughts out of our minds—or unintentional when we’re focused on other things.
My work emphasizes the real-world application of these findings in scenarios where stressors are present. This research is important because understanding how stress shapes our memory could lead to better interventions for people with anxiety, PTSD, or other stress-related disorders. By shedding light on when and how stress causes us to forget (or remember) our daily experiences, we aim to support mental health on a practical level.
I’ve always been curious about how stress changes our behavior and thinking patterns, so I started exploring different research areas in psychology. A friend of mine recommended Dr. Shields’ lab based on their positive experience working on an Honors thesis there. It turned out Dr. Shields was looking into the cognitive processes behind forgetting under stress—perfect for someone like me who’s interested in both clinical and cognitive psychology.
After several discussions with Dr. Shields, we developed a plan to investigate how stress disrupts our memory. Diving into journal articles and lab data on stress and memory has given me a deeper appreciation for the complexity of our brains. It’s fascinating to see how something as common as stress can significantly influence whether we hold onto or forget certain pieces of information.
Before I began my research, I was primarily interested in how the brain works, but I was also aware that many traditional lab experiments have limited real-world applications. Stress psychology bridges that gap. By studying how the brain responds to real-world stressors, we gain valuable insights into how it functions in genuine, everyday situations—not just in carefully controlled lab settings.
After I finish my undergraduate degree, I plan to attend medical school. I’m confident that what I’ve learned—how to code, interpret data, and communicate in an academic setting—will be incredibly helpful as I move forward in my training. I also hope to continue using these research skills to explore how stress affects overall health.
Ultimately, my Honors College research experience has encouraged me to keep asking questions and to seek out new ways to help people through science. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me, and I’m grateful for all I’ve learned about how stress influences our memory and well-being.