NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS NEWSLETTER
Volume 16, Issue 6 (June, 2012)

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In this issue:

1. What's New at Neuroscience for Kids
2. Neuroscience for Kids Site of the Month
3. An Airbag for Your Head
4. The Journal of Emerging Investigators
5. Brain Food
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 May including:

A. May Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter was archived
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/news165.html
B. Phobia Increases the Perception of Size
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/spiderp.html

In May, 2 new figures were added and 36 pages were modified.
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2. NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS "SITE OF THE MONTH"

The Neuroscience for Kids "Site of the Month" for June is "BrainFacts.org" at:

http://brainfacts.org

BrainFacts.org is a new web site launched in May, 2012, by the Society for Neuroscience. According to a press release about the site, BrainFacts.org seeks to help "...people of all ages to learn more about how the brain works, how it drives thought and behavior, and its role in brain diseases and disorders."

The site is divided into six main sections: About Neuroscience; Brain Basics; Sensing, Thinking, & Behaving; Diseases & Disorders; Across the Lifespan; In Society. Each of those main sections is further divided into more sections. For example, Brain Basics is divided into Neuroanatomy, Cell Communication, Brain Development, Neural Network Function and Evolution. All of these sections contain scientific articles and news reports about a particular topic. The news articles link to the original source such as Scientific American, MSNBC and Reuters. BrainFacts.org should be a valuable "go to" site as long as the developers make frequent updates to keep up with new research findings.

BrainFacts.org was created with support from The Kavli Foundation, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and the Society for Neuroscience (SfN).
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3. AN AIRBAG FOR YOUR HEAD

Manufacturers call the Hovding "The Invisible Bicycle Helmet," but I call it "An Airbag For Your Head." What is Hovding? It's a bike helmet that blends style with safety. Unlike a traditional bike helmet that you strap to your head, the Hovding is worn around your neck like a collar. Inside of the collar is a folded up airbag. Sensors inside of the collar pick up abnormal movement and trigger the airbag to inflate when there is an accident, for example, when you fall off your bike. The airbag takes only 0.1 seconds to inflate and surround your head like a hood.

Read more about Hovding at:

http://www.hovding.com/
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4. THE JOURNAL OF EMERGING INVESTIGATORS

The Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI) is a new publication created by graduate students here at Harvard. JEI is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal that focuses on the natural and physical sciences. It publishes original research and review articles written by middle and high school students. Students that submit work to JEI will learn about the scientific review process and receive feedback from PhD students who work in the field. The top submissions are published in the online journal. This not only serves to recognize the top young researchers but also helps them share their exciting work with the public. Read more about JEI at:

http://emerginginvestigators.org/
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5. BRAIN FOOD

When people use the phrase "brain food," they are usually talking about foods that are healthy for the brain. Not this time. Artist Sara Asnaghi has created brains from food. Have a look through Sara's online gallery of images -- definitely food for thought!

Images (1)
Images (2)
Images (3)
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6. MEDIA ALERT

A. "The Human Brain Project" by Henry Markram (Scientific American, June, 2012).

B. "The Perfected Self by David H. Freedman (The Atlantic, June, 2012) discusses the comeback of B.F. Skinner's theory of behavioral modification.

C. The "Body Worlds & the Brain" exhibit opened on May 25 at the Science Museum of Virginia (Richmond, VA).
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7. THE TREASURE TROVE OF BRAIN TRIVIA

A. Ants (Brachymyrmex sp.) have brains that are 15% of their total body mass. (Source: Seid, M.A., Castillo, A. and Wcislo, W.T., The allometry of brain miniaturization in ants. Brain Behav Evol., 77:5-13, 2011.)

B. Nitric oxide and carbon monoxide are two gases that work as neurotransmitters.

C. Only about half the number of neurons generated during development survives into adulthood. (Source: Brain Facts, Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C., 2012.)

D. June is National Migraine Awarness Month.

E. The brain of a platypus weighs about 9 grams. This is slightly less than the weight of an average rabbit brain (about 10-13 grams), but more than the weight an average squirrel brain (about 7.6 grams).
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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)