WHAT: Noggins @ Kellogg Middle School!

We did it!

“What happens when you get a concussion? Do thoughts have weight? How much is the brain worth? Where in the brain is embarrassment? How does an MRI work?”

“What are thoughts? How do we form thoughts? Does brain size relate to how smart you are? How do blind people imagine objects? Why do we feel emotions? Is the brain blue? Is the adult brain smaller because they lack imagination?” 🙂

WHERE: Kellogg Middle School, 3400 SE 69th Ave, Portland, OR 97206

WHEN: Thursday, October 15th, 2026, 12:15 – 4:15pm

CONTACT: Brandan McClain, Social Sciences/Language Arts Teacher, Kellogg Middle School

Our first visit to Kellogg, home of the Cougars!

We’ll explore noggins, make art, and discuss student questions about brain research!

GREAT QUESTIONS!

• Many students were curious about sleep and the brain. What is the right amount of sleep to get? Why do people hallucinate if they don’t get enough sleep? 
• Related to social studies class, students wondered what it is about the brain that leads people to want to have power over others.
  – The influence of social power on neural responses to emotional conflict
  – On power and its corrupting effects: the effects of power on human behavior and the limits of accountability systems
• They also wondered if there is something about the brain that relates to people responding to religion. Why do people need social connections?
  – Cognitive and neural foundations of religious belief
• What part of the brain makes you feel disturbed or uncomfortable?
• What is anxiety? 
• Why do we experience emotions? Why not simply focus objectively on things that will help us survive?

Please join us! Email griesar@pdx.edu and jleake@pdx.edu to learn more.

COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
3. Terra Andrews, PSU
4. Diane Aziagba, PSU
5. Julie Bryant, PSU
6. Nancy Reyes Bolanos, PSU
7. Heather Haynie, PSU
8. Omri Jones, PSU
9. Injoo Yang, PSU
10. Bella Showerman, PSU