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In this issue:
A. October Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter was archived
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/news1610.html
B. 2013 Neuroscience for Kids Drawing Contest
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/contest13.html
C. 2012 Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/2012sfn.html
In October, 5 new figures were added and 41 pages were modified.
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This month's site selection is a scientific journal, The Whitman Journal of Psychology. This publication is run by students at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, MD. The students review, edit and publish the work of other students from around the country. Papers can be related to any field of psychology.
The current issue of the journal has papers with the titles "Quantifying Cognition: Applying Quantitative Economics and Nash Game Theory to Predict and Influence Human Behavior," "Mom Always Liked Me Better: The Impact of Parent-Child Resemblance on Kin Investment," and "Conformity Strength in Relation to Age Difference."
Not only are the student publishers learning about psychology, they are
also learning about the business of running a journal, science writing and
communicating with people on a professional level. If you are a student
who wants to publish your psychological research, I am sure that the
Whitman Journal of Psychology would be interested to hear from you.
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http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/contest13.html
Here is a brief description of the drawing contest rules:
A. Drawings must be done by hand using pencils, pens, markers, and/or crayons and submitted on an official entry form (or copy of the form).
B. Entries will be divided into five categories based on age. Complete one of the following sentences and draw a picture to illustrate the sentence; if you are in:
Kindergarten to Grade 2: "My brain helps me ________________."
Grade 3 to Grade 5: "Brain Fitness: I keep my brain healthy by _________."
Grade 6 to Grade 8: "My brain is like a _________ because___________."
Grade 9 to Grade 12: "My favorite part of the brain is ________ because _____."
College students, teachers (all grades) and parents: "My favorite neuroscientist is ______ because _______."
Web sites for teacher and parent drawing ideas:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nobel.html
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/hist.html
SPECIAL HINT TO NEWSLETTER READERS: if you are in grade 6 to 8, do NOT draw a picture that compares the brain to a computer, a book, a sponge or a robot. These comparisons are very common and are unlikely to win. Be creative!
C. To enter the drawing contest, mail your completed entry form to the address listed on the entry form.
D. Entries must be received by February 1, 2013, and will not be returned. Winners will be announced no later than March 1, 2013.
E. Drawings will be judged by the staff of Neuroscience for Kids or by other individuals designated by Dr. Eric H. Chudler. Drawings will be judged on the basis of originality, scientific accuracy and overall design.
F. There will be several winners in each age group. Winners will be awarded a neuroscience book or other prize related to the brain.
Good luck to everyone!
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The Brain Awareness Week Open House will include an interactive group assembly about the brain and hands-on exhibits that highlight different aspects of brain research. The Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in the University of Washington Husky Union Building. Because of the high interest in the Open House and limited space available, we must restrict the number of people who can attend. Additional information (parking instructions, etc.) will be sent to the classes that are selected to attend.
For more information about UW BAW Open House, contact Dr. Eric H. Chudler (e-mail: chudler@u.washington.edu) or visit the UW BAW web page at:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/baw.html
If you would like to attend the Open House, please complete the online application located at:
https://catalyst.uw.edu/webq/survey/chudler/181284
Those teachers and classes selected to attend the Open House will be
notified no later than February 1, 2013. Register early - space fills up
quickly!
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Now anyone can have a look at Einstein's brain with an iPad and $9.99. Your $9.99 will be enough to buy the "Einstein Brain App." I have not purchased the app and have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, the app might motivate people to ask themselves what it is about the brain that creates genius. Perhaps by looking at Einstein's brain, people will ask questions about themselves and become interested in how their own brain functions. However, the use of Einstein's brain as a $9.99 app is a bit troubling. Did Einstein give permission for his brain to be used in this way? Of course, there were no iPads 50 years ago, but did Einstein want his brain, even images of his brain, to be commercialized? If not, what right do people have to create and sell materials using his body? And what about the images in the app? It is unlikely that they could be used for real scientific study or even for educational purposes because it is not clear what part of the brain the tissue comes from and the stain that is used shows only some features of neurons.
These are important questions you should ask yourself before you put down your $9.99 for the app.
More information about the app:
The Einstein Brain Atlas App from the National Museum of Health and Medicine Chicago (NMHMChicago):
http://nmhmchicago.net/einstein/
Einstein Brain Atlas available on iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nmhmc-harvey/id555722456?ls=1&mt=8
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http://www.neuro4kids.com
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B. "Brutal Truths About the Aging Brain" by Robert Epstein and "Donors Against Dementia" by Jeff Wheelwright in DISCOVER magazine (October, 2012).
C. DISCOVER magazine recently published a special issue (Fall, 2012) titled "The Brain.". Articles discuss topics such as new cures for depression, a possible link between toxins and Alzheimer's disease, and fear.
D. "Grow Your Own Eye" by Yoshiki Sasai and "Autism and the Technical
Mind" by Simon Baron-Cohen in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN (November, 2012).
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B. Greek physician and anatomist Erasistratus (304-250 BC) is considered to be the "father of physiology."
C. The Journal of Physiology was first published in 1878; the American Journal of Physiology was first published in 1898.
D. The sclera is the name of the white part of the eye.
E. Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness in the world.
(Source: National Institutes of Health)
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Help Neuroscience for Kids
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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)