Framlingham College science, and psychology pupils were given an incredible insight into neuroscience during Brain Day 2024.
Hosted by Dr Guy Sutton, the Director of Medical Biology Interactive, pupils gathered in the Headmaster Porter Theatre on Friday, 4th October, for a half-day introductory lecture in neuroscience, followed by practical sessions in our biology labs.
Topics from the morning lecture included:
Neuron to Brain, Nerve Cells and Brain Function: Introducing the basic structure and function of brain anatomy, from nerve cells and synapses, to measuring the brain’s electrical activity with EEG, consciousness and neural decoding.
Neuroplasticity: Analysing the benefits of sleep and the effects of sleep neglect on the brain.
The Damaged Brain: An insight into the effects of brain damage, including neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease, with the cerebral organoid used as a model for disease.
Mind, Brain and Crime: Exploring the effects of prenatal and postnatal abuse on the brain, such as how brain damage, chemical poisoning and brain tumours affect behaviour, alongside how these effects on the brain may link to criminality, and the future of neurotechnology and the legal system.
Pupils then returned to the lab for a fascinating afternoon of sheep brain dissections using the case study of hemispherectomy – a rare type of surgery that removes or disconnects an unhealthy half of the brain from the other half to treat seizures.
Parents also attended a special evening lecture on ‘The Development and Change of the Teenage Brain – Exploring the Truths and Myths Regarding the Adolescent Brain’, considering brain development and changes from childhood through adolescence to adulthood, examining the effects of drugs and teenage mental health issues, concluding with the effects of smartphones and social media usage on developing brains.
Psychology subject ambassador, Emily H, said: “My favourite part of Brain Day was the second lecture about how the mind, brain and , crime all interact together. Dr Sutton described how the brain can have a serious affect people who have committed a crime, showcasing research examples on how these theories can be applied to real-life circumstances, which made the lecture even more fascinating.
“The way Dr Sutton presented the lectures and the format in which he presented truly inspired me and kept me intrigued throughout the whole day. It made me very excited for future lectures at university and has also inspired me to learn more about how people behave, and how that behaviour can be linked to the brain. It made me even more drawn to Psychology as a subject and how much there is to learn and understand.
“For anyone interested in taking Psychology at A-level, if you have ever been curious as to why people do what they do, and how behaviour is shaped, then Psychology is definitely the subject for you. It is an extremely fascinating subject which delves into behaviours and will deepen your understanding of human beings.”
