NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS NEWSLETTER
Volume 20, Issue 2 (February, 2016)

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Welcome to the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter.

In this issue:

1. What's New at Neuroscience for Kids
2. Neuroscience for Kids Site of the Month
3. Neuroscience for Kids Poetry Contest
4. BrainWorks Update
5. Summer in UW Neurological Surgery
6. Media Alert
7. Treasure Trove of Brain Trivia
8. Support Neuroscience for Kids
9. How to Stop Your Subscription

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1. WHAT'S NEW AT NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS

Neuroscience for Kids had several new additions in January including:

A. January Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter was archived
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/news201.html
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2. NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS "SITE OF THE MONTH"

The Neuroscience for Kids "Site of the Month" for February is "TED: Neuroscience" at:

https://www.ted.com/topics/neuroscience

Many people enjoy watching short (18 minutes or less), online "TED" talks on a variety of topics. There is even a special section of the TED web site devoted to neuroscience. The neuroscience section starts with playlists with a series of talks on a) How does my brain work?, b) All kinds of minds, c) The autism spectrum and d) Our brains: predictably irrational. The remainder of the site lists many more talks listed in reverse chronological order.

A fun, short (6 minutes) TED talk is given by Dr. Greg Gage from the Backyard Brains company. Using simple electronics, Dr. Gage demonstrates how one person can control another person's movement. Other talks focus on sleep, neurological disorders, neurotechnology; there is really something for anyone interested in the brain.

Did you know that TED is an acronym for Technology, Entertainment and Design?
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3. NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS POETRY CONTEST

The 2016 Neuroscience for Kids Poetry Contest is now closed and judging has begun. Winners will be contacted by email and sent their prizes. Some of the winning poems will be published in this newsletter next month.
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4. BRAINWORKS UPDATE

The BrainWorks TV show about sports-related concussions was the 17th most watched program on UWTV in 2015. Not bad considering that the show was first broadcast in September, 2015. Filming of the next BrainWorks episode will begin this month. This new episode will focus on the benefits of exercise on the brain and is made possible with program support provided by the Dana Foundation and the Dean Witter Foundation. If all goes as planned, the show will air in April of this year. You can still watch previous episodes of BrainWorks online at:

http://uwtv.org/series/brainworks/
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5. SUMMER IN UW NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY

The University of Washington Department of Neurological Surgery invites talented and highly motivated students interested in Neuroscience to participate in their 8-week Neurological Surgery Summer Student Program. The program consists of a lab placement, attendance at Neurological Surgery Grand Rounds, operating room observations, Friday talks by faculty, and a final student Power Point presentation and graduation in front of family, friends and mentors. College students receive a $3,200 stipend and high school students (ages 18+) receive a $2776 stipend. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. For details and an application for this program, see:

http://neurosurgery.washington.edu/education/summerprogram/
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6. MEDIA ALERT

A. "Inside the Eye: Nature's Most Exquisite Creation" by Ed Yong (NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine, February, 2016).

B. "How Bitter Taste Receptors Defend the Body against Bacteria" by Robert J. Lee, Noam A. Cohen and "Critical Ingredients for Brain Development" by Takao K. Hensch (SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, February, 2016).

C. "The Nets Around the Neurons" by Sandra J. Ackerman (AMERICAN SCIENTIST, January-February, 2016).

D. "Seeing the Spectrum" by Steven Shapin (THE NEW YORKER, January 25, 2016).
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7. THE TREASURE TROVE OF BRAIN TRIVIA

A. February is National Wise Health Care Consumer Month.

B. Approximately 3.3 million children in the United States have dizziness and balance problems (Source: Li, C-M., Hoffman, H.J., Ward, B.K., Cohen, H.S., Rine, R.M., Epidemiology of Dizziness and Balance Problems in Children in the United States: A Population-Based Study, J. Pediatrics, published online January 27, 2016, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.12.002)

C. In 2015, players in the National Football League (NFL) suffered from 182 concussions in regular season games. This is up from 115 concussions that occurred during the 2014 season. (Source Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/ct-nfl-concussions-spt-0130-20160129-story.html)

D. Chilean tarantulas have neurotoxins called phrixotoxins that block sodium and potassium channels on neurons.

E. Sweat, carbon dioxide and lactic acid attract mosquitoes.
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8. SUPPORT NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS

To ensure that Neuroscience for Kids stays available, we need your help. All contributions to Neuroscience for Kids are tax deductible (subject to IRS regulations). If you would like to donate to Neuroscience for Kids, please visit:

Help Neuroscience for Kids
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9. HOW TO STOP RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER

To remove yourself from this mailing list and stop your subscription to the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter, send e-mail to Dr. Eric H. Chudler at: chudler@u.washington.edu
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Your comments and suggestions about this newsletter and the "Neuroscience for Kids" web site are always welcome. If there are any special topics that you would like to see on the web site, just let me know.

Eric

Eric H. Chudler, Ph.D.
(e-mail: chudler@u.washington.edu)
(URL: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html)