NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS NEWSLETTER
Volume 19, Issue 10 (October, 2015)

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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 Monks
4. Winners of the BAW Video Contest
5. Memory: Past Meets Present
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 September including:

A. September Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter was archived
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/news199.html
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2. NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS "SITE OF THE MONTH"

The Neuroscience for Kids "Site of the Month" for October is the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) "Redefining Possible" at:

http://redefiningpossible.org/

"Redefining Possible" tells the stories of people who have had spinal cord or brain injuries. Each story is accompanied by a photograph, a quote, and a video about the person. Most of the people suffered their injuries car accidents, but they have all overcome their injuries and found a way to thrive.

The web site is really a piece of art. The photography is excellent and the behind-the-scenes videos provide extra insight into each of the stories.
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3. NEUROSCIENCE FOR MONKS

Last month I spent about two weeks in Bylakuppe, India, teaching neuroscience to a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns. Although the monks had very little science background, they were all curious about what I had to say about the brain. They also asked me some very difficult questions about consciousness. You can read more about the trip on my blog at:

http://neuroinindia.blogspot.com

and see photos at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/109062152188489752309/Bylakuppe?authuser=0&feat=directlink<
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4. WINNERS OF THE BAW VIDEO CONTEST

The winners of the 2015 Society for Neuroscience Brain Awareness Week Video Contest have been announced. First place ($1,000 plus travel, two-nights lodging and registration to the upcoming Society for Neuroscience meeting) went to Matthew Sugrim for his video titled "Do We See the Same Red?" Matthew's video as well as those from the second and third place winners can be seen on the Society for Neuroscience web site at:

http://www.brainfacts.org/Educators/Get-Involved/Articles-Folder/Brain-Awareness-Video-Contest
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5. MEMORY: PAST MEETS PRESENT

The Pacific Science Center (Seattle, WA) has opened a new "Portal to Current Research" exhibit titled "Memory: Past Meets Present." The exhibit shows how procedural memory helps people learn to do different tasks. One demonstration was created by University of Washington graduate students who created "vHAB," a video game that patients can use for rehabilitation after they have they have suffered injury or disease. The installment will be on the floor of the Pacific Science Center until March 6, 2016.

https://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/exhibits/portal-to-current-research/
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6. MEDIA ALERT

A. "The Power of Sleep" is the cover story in the October, 2015, issue of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN.

B. "Stepping into the Light" by Alexandra Sifferlin and Alice Park discusses possible cures for blindness (TIME magazine, September 21, 2015).
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7. THE TREASURE TROVE OF BRAIN TRIVIA

A. Sir Peter Mansfield, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 2003 for his work on discoveries related to magnetic resonance imaging, was born on October 9, 1933.

B. The eyelid has the thinnest skin on the entire body (Source: Sims, M., Adam's Navel, New York: Viking, 2003).

C. Meningitis can be caused by certain types of bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, cancers, and drugs.

D. Here is an easy way to remember the order of the meninges, starting from the layer closest to the brain: The meninges "PAD" the brain -- Pia; Arachnoid; Dura.

E. Oliver Wendell Holmes (The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, 1858) had this to say about wearing glasses: "Spectacles. I don't use them. All I ask is a large, fair type, a strong daylight or gas-light, and one yard of focal distance, and my eyes are as good as ever."
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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)