The highlight of the class is the dissection of a real sheep brain!


First we learn how the brain is organized, and introduce the cortex, the limbic system, and the brain stem. To explore all the functions of the brain, we talk about at how each of the five senses are processed in our brains, introducing the occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes. Then we get into the amazing contribution of the hippocampus, which we later dissect! This is a particularly tricky cut because the hippocampus is shaped like a ram's horn and requires dissections along both horizontal and sagittal axes. We also talk about the cerebellum, which has a amazing tree-like structure that is just beautiful to see everytime.




This year, the hot topic was about neuroplasticity: can the brain re-wire it self? (the answer is yes!)

After the introduction to the brain, we asked students:
Where are memories stored in the brain?





By the end of the class, you'll be able to watch this Pinky & The Brain video and know where all those brain parts are.