Description

What can brain and body data reveal about fear, stress and sleep, and what does it leave out?

Stress, Sleep and Survival is a VCE Psychology program combining virtual reality, physiological data, sleep science and case analysis to investigate responses to threat, stress and sleep disruption. Students collect and analyse EEG and self-report data during a controlled VR heights experience, interpret evidence about sleep and performance, and apply the biopsychosocial framework to a fictional specific phobia case. They also consider what physiological data can reveal and what it cannot explain about thoughts, emotions, experiences and social context.

The program supports key VCE Psychology concepts, including stress as a psychobiological process, sleep and psychological functioning, mental wellbeing, specific phobia, ethical conduct and scientific inquiry. Students develop practical data-analysis skills, stronger scientific investigation language and memorable examples for SAC and exam preparation.

The program is a psychological investigation, not therapy, diagnosis or a test of bravery. Activities include opt-in participation, privacy protections, withdrawal rights, alternative roles and carefully structured debriefing.