August 26-27, 2014
University of Otago’s Brain Health Research Centre brought its huge inflatable megabrain to Queenstown for two days to show more than 700 students aged five to 18 from throughout the Wakatipu how the brain works, in collaboration with Catalyst Trust.
Students entered the 4 by 3 by 3metre brain through the frontal lobe and exited through the cerebellum.
En route, they learned the functions of each part and what healthy and diseased or injured brain tissue looked like.
From BHRC educator Irene Mosely, they also learned that the brain uses about 20% of your body’s oxygen, is about 75% water and generates 25 watts of power while you’re awake – enough to illuminate a light bulb.
It also knows when you tickle yourself…which is why you don’t bend over laughing in response.
Questions flowed throughout the two days of showing, with students travelling from as far as Arrowtown and Glenorchy to enjoy the opportunity.