Surprising Ways to Beat Exam Stress

To get over exam stress, firstly you need to understand the reasons behind this anxiety. Then you can establish methods to reduce the pressure you feel. Researchers have uncovered some common solutions for this:

Take a quick walk.

【小题1】 However, research has proven that exercising such as taking a walk a walk can boost your memory and brain power.

Plan your study routine.

【小题2】 But what is shocking is the number of students who discount the benefits of creating a personal study plan. With some initial efforts, you can become more productive and motivated each day you approach your study by understanding your learning progress.

Try to get enough sleep.

The benefits of a proper night’s sleep can never be underestimated. Most importantly, sleep helps your brain to absorb new knowledge into your long-term memory.【小题3】

Let it all out.

Sometimes you just need to talk to someone, and other times you need to shout it from the rooftop or scream from the top of your lungs.【小题4】 Speaking to a family member or friend can highlight the bigger picture for you and empower you to rise above the exam stress.

【小题5】

Meditation(沉思，冥想) is one of the most effective ways to take a break and see your stress from a different perspective. Practicing meditation is another way to stay focused while improving both mental and physical health to reduce pre-exam stress.

A new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Victoria has shown that common levels of traffic pollution can damage human brain function in only a matter of hours.

“For many decades, scientists thought the brain may be protected from the harmful effects of air pollution,” said senior study author Dr. Chris Carlsten. “This study, which is the first of its kind in the world, provides fresh evidence supporting a connection between air pollution and cognition.”

For the study, the researchers briefly exposed 25 healthy adults to diesel exhaust (柴油废气) and filtered air at different times in a laboratory setting. Brain activity was measured before and after each exposure using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

The researchers analyzed changes in the brain’s default mode network (DMN), a set of inter-connected brain regions that play an important role in memory and internal thought. The fMRI revealed that participants had decreased functional connectivity in widespread regions of the DMN after exposure to diesel exhaust, compared to filtered air.

“We know that altered functional connectivity in the DMN has been associated with reduced cognitive performance and symptoms of depression, so it’s concerning to see traffic pollution interrupting these same networks,” said Dr. Jodie Gawryluk, a psychology professor at the University of Victoria and the study’s first author. “While more research is needed to fully understand the functional impacts of these changes, it’s possible that they may impair (损害) people’s thinking or ability to work.”

Notably, the changes in the brain were temporary and participants’ connectivity returned to normal after the exposure. Dr. Carlsten assumed that the effects could be long lasting where exposure is continuous. He said that people should be mindful of the air they’re breathing and take appropriate steps to minimize their exposure to potentially harmful air pollutants like car exhaust.