The UNC Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies and Duke Institute for Brain Sciences are joining forces to sponsor Brain Awareness Week events at the NC Museum of Life + Science in Durham.
What: “Electric Muscles!” interactive exhibit and “It’s Alive!” classes
When: Thursday, March 4-8, 9:45 – 2:30 (various shifts)
Electric Muscles! Station 1: How your brain “talks” to muscles. This station has brain specimens – including a real human brain! – and skull models that are props for talking to visitors about the brain and how it controls our muscles and behavior.
Electric Muscles! Station 2: Hear your muscles working! This station will use portable EMG recorders hooked up to tablets or iPods to “hear” and “see” your muscles working. Check it out here: https://backyardbrains.com/products/emgspikerboxkit (scroll down for video).
“It’s Alive!” classroom labs: These labs are for junior high and high school classed who scheduled them in advance. Volunteers will work with groups of students to listen to action potentials from a cricket leg and identify the different parts of a sheep brain. There will be two 50-min class periods with a 40 min break in between. No prior experience necessary. Check it out here:https://backyardbrains.com/products/spikerbox (scroll down for video).
Extra Brain Activities: We will have extra stations with cool neuroscience activities on Saturday, Mar 8.