NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS NEWSLETTER
Volume 17, Issue 6 (June, 2013)

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In this issue:

1. What's New at Neuroscience for Kids
2. Neuroscience for Kids Site of the Month
3. A Night at the Zoo (and Aquarium)
4. Book Review
5. Media Alert
6. Treasure Trove of Brain Trivia
7. Summer Email Changes
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/news175.html

B. July and August Neurocalendars
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/jul13.pdf
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/aug13.pdf

C. Chick Dance Chicks Recalled
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/cdance.html

In May, 3 new figures were added and 29 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 the "Association for Psychological Science" at:

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/

Although the web site of the Association for Psychological Science (APS) is intended primarily for its members, there is still plenty of material for everyone else. Some articles from the association's journals are available to non-members. For example, a special issue about the teenage brain can be read in the "Current Directions in Psychological Science" (April, 2013). Articles from the APS "Observer" and news and videos covering the many subfields of psychology are also accessible to non-members.
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3. A NIGHT AT THE ZOO (AND AQUARIUM)

Last month I traveled to Omaha, NE, for a conference. For one of the dinners, the meeting organizers arranged a special evening tour of the Omaha Zoo and Aquarium. I was especially interested in seeing the aquarium because I have always had an interest in the ocean and in fact, when I started college, I planned to become a marine biologist before going into neuroscience. So, after I arrived at the zoo, I headed over to the aquarium first.

Although the Omaha aquarium had a variety of impressive displays, my favorite exhibit contained jellyfish. I could watch the jellyfish float up and down for hours; they appear so peaceful. The sting of some jellyfish have a neurotoxin so strong it could be lethal to people, so I am glad they were inside a tank.

After visiting the aquarium, I made my way to the tropical house. Before I entered the main area of the tropical house, an exhibit showing how many medicines come from plants caught my eye. As some readers of this newsletter know, I am currently working on a project investigating the neuroactive properties of medicinal plants and herbs ("Sowing the Seeds of Neuroscience" -- http://www.neuroseeds.org), so this exhibit was interesting to me in many ways. Several plants discussed in the exhibit have been used to create medicines to treat neurological illnesses.

Once inside the tropical house, I approach a group of bats feeding on some cut fruit. The bats were not enclosed by any glass or fence, so when they flew off, they buzzed by me only inches away. Although some people believe that bats are blind, they actually have decent eyesight and they also use echolocation to navigate and find food. So, I was not concerned when the bats flew so close to me that I could feel the wind off their wings.

The rest of the tropical house had many birds, mammals, fish and reptiles that I had never seen before. I was not able to tour the entire zoo, but if it is anything like the aquarium and tropical house, then a visit to this zoo would be a great side trip the next time you are in Omaha.

For more information about the Omaha Zoo, see:

http://www.omahazoo.com/
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4. BOOK REVIEW

This review covers two new books, both for young readers (grades K-3): "A Tour of Your Nervous System" by Molly Kolpin (Capstone Press: North Mankato, 2013) and "Inside the Brain" by Karin Halvorson (ABDO Publishing Co., North Mankato, 2013).

In Molly Kolpin's book, "Nelly Neuron" takes readers on a tour of the nervous system. The book starts with a description of a neuron and then moves to the brain. In only 21 pages, the book does not provide too much detail, but the colorful comic book drawings are likely to appeal to young readers. Karin Halvorson also uses comic book drawings and adds photographs of kids to illustrate how the brain works; she also includes simple experiments to reinforce concepts. Unlike Kolpin, Halvorson does not discuss the structure of the neuron.

Unfortunately, both books contain a few scientific errors. For example, Kolpin's description of the brain's role in a reflex and Halvorson's description of right/left brain differences are not accurate. Nevertheless, both books still provide budding neuroscientists with a good introduction to the brain.
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5. MEDIA ALERT

A. "Alzheimers Disease: The Great Morbidity of the 21st Century" by Charles T. Ambrose and "An Acoustic Arms Race" by William E. Conner can be found in AMERICAN SCIENTIST magazine (May-June, 2013).

B. "Mind in the Machine" by Adam Piore and "Standing Promise" by Nate Berg in DISCOVER magazine (June, 2013).

C. "Breaking the Brain Barrier" by Jeneen Interlandi (SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, June, 2013).

D. "A Bird's Eye View" by Tim Birkhead (AUDUBON magazine, May-June, 2013).

E. "Thought Experiment" by Jonathan Keats (WIRED magazine, June, 2013) describes the work of Henry Markram to simulate the human brain.
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6. THE TREASURE TROVE OF BRAIN TRIVIA

A. The American Association for the Advancement of Science was established on September 20, 1848, in Philadelphia, PA.

B. 99% of all animals are invertebrates; they do not have a backbone.

C. Electric eels generate their shock using specialized cells in their nervous system. (For more details, see: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-do-electric-eels-gene)

D. The word "physiology" comes from Greek meaning "the study of nature."

E. Plessor, plexor and percussor are words used to describe the small hammer that doctors use to test reflexes.
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7. SUMMER EMAIL CHANGES

If your email address will change over the summer, please let me know (email: chudler@u.washington.edu) so you will not miss an issue of this newsletter.
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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)