# data[].attributes.body
WHO: a sample of healthy students

WHAT: is the claustrum the source of consciousness?/how strongly does it correlate with consciousness?

WHEN: over the next 9 moths

WHY: consciousness is the only non-falsifiable thing in the universe. (Even if we are living in a simulation, consciousness is still real).
To find out what consciousness is and where it comes from, could guide us to the meaning of life, and what we should do in the future. For example, is it amoral, or completely necessary, to ensure that AI of the future is conscious?)

RESEARCH QUESTION:
(not decided-just an example)
Does TMS stimulation to the claustrum, disrupt or change consciousness, in young, healthy populations?

POSITVES:
TMS is a cheap and relatively non-invasive neuroimaging technique

easy access to sample

NEGATIVES:
described experience of consciousness is by it's very nature subjective.

# data[].attributes.body
Who: Family members impacted by addiction.

What: the impact of support on wellbeing/resilience/mental health

When: Now

Where: Lancashire

Why: In 2009 a UK Drug Policy Commission found that around 1.5 million people are impacted by a loved one’s addiction in the UK. This commission outlined the financial burden that results from this for families as £1.8 billion per year if you consider factors such as employment, theft, health care and debt, whilst saving the state up to £750 million each year through unpaid care, housing and other financial burdens the family pick up.

So whilst there is an acknowledgement that families are impacted there is little research around the psychological impact of treating the family members in their own right.

Research Question: Work in progress…

Loved Ones Impacted by Addiction- The impact of support on wellbeing and resilience.

Positives: Current area of employment. Very relevant in terms of assessing the effectiveness of current support of family members. Could influence service changes.

Problems Identified: Ensuring research question is relevant and specific. Risks of losing focus.

# data[].attributes.body
Who: People in older age with hearing difficulties

What: Impact of hearing on speech and the effects of aging on cognitive decline

When: 9 months

Where: Manchester

Why: To gain better understanding of the neural bases of hearing and speech and its correlation with cognitive decline and dementia

Research question/title: R1: Does hearing decline with age or other factors potentially play a role? R2: Does certain regions of brain effect the speech in people with hearing difficulties? /Hearing with our brain: difficulties understanding speech in old age

P- Older people with hearing difficulties

I-Factors independent of age that may have a role in hearing and speech difficulty (Gender, lifestyle, use of hearing aids)

C-FFR, hearing test, working memory tasks

O- Improves the method to detect cognitive decline in older people, i.e., performance on working memory tasks, possibly provides an early intervention for dementia

Positive of research question:

Concise

Problems identified:

Does not mention the specific region of brain and factors that may have a role

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Who:  Those with (or will get) COVID-19

What: Comparison of different vaccines success rates

When: Now
Where: UK.

Why: COVID-19 has a higher morbidity rate, in high risk groups, relative to other similar viruses. Identifying the most vaccine and to who is of immediate importance.

Research Question: Which vaccine is the most effective against COVID-19?

Positives: Interesting and topical.

Problems Identified: Do you think you will realistically be able to do this research in 9 months in the MRes?