NEUROSCIENCE+NOVEMBER+2012

NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS NEWSLETTER - Volume 16, Issue 11 (November, 2012)

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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 Drawing Contest - Now Open 4. 2013 University of Washington Brain Awareness Week Open House 5. Einstein Brain App 6. NEURO4KIDS.COM 7. Media Alert 8. Treasure Trove of Brain Trivia 9. Support Neuroscience for Kids 10. How to Stop Your Subscription

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">1. WHAT'S NEW AT NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Neuroscience for Kids had several new additions in October including:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">A. September Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter was archived <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/news169.html <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">B. 2013 Neuroscience for Kids Drawing Contest <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/contest13.html <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">C. 2012 Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/2012sfn.html

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">In October, 5 new figures were added and 41 pages were modified.

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">2. NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS "SITE OF THE MONTH"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">The Neuroscience for Kids "Site of the Month" for November is "The Whitman Journal of Psychology" at:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">http://www.whitmanpsychjournal.org

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">3. NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS DRAWING CONTEST - NOW OPEN

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Get out your pencils, pens and markers! The NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS DRAWING CONTEST is now open to students in kindergarten through high school. This year, TEACHERS and PARENTS can enter too! Use your imagination to draw a picture about the nervous system and you might win a prize. The complete set of rules and the official entry form for the contest are available at:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/contest13.html

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Here is a brief description of the drawing contest rules:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Kindergarten to Grade 2: "My brain helps me ________________."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Grade 3 to Grade 5: "Brain Fitness: I keep my brain healthy by _________."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Grade 6 to Grade 8: "My brain is like a _________ because___________."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Grade 9 to Grade 12: "My favorite part of the brain is ________ because _____."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">College students, teachers (all grades) and parents: "My favorite neuroscientist is ______ because _______."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Web sites for teacher and parent drawing ideas: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nobel.html <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/hist.html

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">C. To enter the drawing contest, mail your completed entry form to the address listed on the entry form.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">D. Entries must be received by February 1, 2013, and will not be returned. Winners will be announced no later than March 1, 2013.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">F. There will be several winners in each age group. Winners will be awarded a neuroscience book or other prize related to the brain.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Good luck to everyone!

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">4. 2013 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK OPEN HOUSE

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is a yearly event to promote the public and personal benefits of brain research. As part of international BAW at the University of Washington, you are invited to an Open House on Tuesday, March 5, 2013.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">For more information about UW BAW Open House, contact Dr. Eric H. Chudler (e-mail: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">chudler@u.washington.edu <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">) or visit the UW BAW web page at:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/baw.html

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">If you would like to attend the Open House, please complete the online application located at:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@https://catalyst.uw.edu/webq/survey/chudler/181284

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">5. EINSTEIN BRAIN APP

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Although Albert Einstein passed away more than 50 years ago (April 18, 1955), people are still fascinated by what made him tick. In fact, there have been several scientific studies that have examined the structure of his brain (see <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/ein.html <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">) in an attempt to understand Einstein's genius.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">These are important questions you should ask yourself before you put down your $9.99 for the app.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">More information about the app:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">The Einstein Brain Atlas App from the National Museum of Health and Medicine Chicago (NMHMChicago): <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://nmhmchicago.net/einstein/

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Einstein Brain Atlas available on iTunes: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nmhmc-harvey/id555722456?ls=1&mt=8

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">6. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">NEURO4KIDS.COM

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">The holiday season is almost here! It's time to get brainy gifts for your friends and family. Visit <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">NEURO4KIDS.COM <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"> for that special present:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">http://www.neuro4kids.com

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">7. MEDIA ALERT

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">A. A new issue of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN MIND is on newsstands now. The cover story is titled "Think Like a Genius." Articles in this issue include: "Geniuses: A Timeline" By Lauren F. Friedman, "The Science of Genius" by Dean Keith Simonton, "Predicting Artistic Brilliance" by Jennifer E. Drake and Ellen Winner, "When High IQs Hang Out" by Lena Groeger, "Nurturing the Young Genius" by Rena F. Subotnik, Paula Olszewski-Kubilius and Frank C. Worrell, "So You Want to Be a Genius" by Daisy Yuhas, "Switching on Creativity" by Allan W. Snyder, Sophie Ellwood and Richard P. Chi, "Where are all the Female Geniuses?" by Sandra Upson and Lauren F. Friedman, and "The Social Genius of Animals" by Katherine Harmon.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">B. "Brutal Truths About the Aging Brain" by Robert Epstein and "Donors Against Dementia" by Jeff Wheelwright in DISCOVER magazine (October, 2012).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">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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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">8. THE TREASURE TROVE OF BRAIN TRIVIA

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">A. In the late 1800s, mechanical massage of the eye was popular way to promote ocular health. (Source: Keeler, R., Singh, A.D. and Dua, H.S., Masseurs: for your eyes only Br J Ophthalmol., 96:1283, 2012.)

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">B. Greek physician and anatomist Erasistratus (304-250 BC) is considered to be the "father of physiology."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">C. The Journal of Physiology was first published in 1878; the American Journal of Physiology was first published in 1898.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">D. The sclera is the name of the white part of the eye.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">E. Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness in the world. (Source: National Institutes of Health)