NW NOGGIN: Neuroscience outreach group (growing in networks)

Noggin @ Fort Vancouver!
2018-11-29 07:15 - 14:05 (America/Los_Angeles) | Fort Vancouver High School, 5700 E 18th St, Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
WHAT: Noggin visit to Fort Vancouver High
We did it!

Remarkable questions from young people still subjected to unconscionably early school start times, which are well known to harm developing adolescent brains.

LEARN MORE: Sleep habits, academic performance, and the adolescent brain structure
LEARN MORE: School Start Times, Sleep, Behavioral, Health, and Academic Outcomes
LEARN MORE: Noggins in Nod
Research should drive policy. It was astonishing how many questions revolved around sleep disturbances, including sleep paralysis, night terrors, hypnopompic and hypnogogic disruptions. This is unsurprising given that classes begin at 7:25am…

STAY TUNED: More posts to come!
WHERE: Fort Vancouver High School, 5700 E 18th St, Vancouver, WA 98661
(Please check in at the school office)
WHEN: Thursday, November 29th, 2018, 7:15am – 2:05pm
Yes, they start that early 😝 And NO, they shouldn’t… 🙄
LEARN MORE: Brains, biofeedback & SLEEP

See what we’ve done previously at the sleep-deprived Home of the Trappers…
Trap Squad!

Brains, biofeedback & SLEEP

Ventricles in Vancouver!

Come join us! Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu, jleake@pdx.edu & jpatchingbunch@gmail.com…
CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS
Jade Osilla, PSU
Ruth Marigomen, WSUV
Aaron Eisen, PSU
Jordan Ray, PSU/NW Noggin Resource Council
Sawyer Perry, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Madison Cho-Richmond, PSU
Jesse Benefiel, PSU
AJ Mitchell, OHSU
Isabella Maranghi, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
McKell Barrett, PSU
Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin Resource Council
Ali Javaheri, PSU

White (Matter!) Elephant Gift Exchange!
2018-11-29 19:00 - 22:00 | Smith Center, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, 97201, United States
WHAT: PSU Neuro Club White Elephant Gift Exchange!
WHERE: Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 294, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
WHEN: Thursday, November 15th, 7:00 – 10:00pm

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we have officially entered the holiday season! To commemorate that now is the appropriate time to sing carols and put up lights, we will be having our white (matter) elephant exchange! Please bring a wrapped gift valuing ten dollars or less and join us for a night of food and fun!

We will meet on Nov. 29th at 7:00 pm in SMSU 294. Hope to see you there!

Another reminder that we have a volunteer opportunity with NW Noggin coming up! They will be at Fort Vancouver High School on November 29th from 7:15am-2:05pm. If you are interested, please email griesar@pdx.edu, jleake@pdx.edu or jpatchingbunch@gmail.com

Noggin @ Fort Vancouver!

Regards,
The Neuroscience Club at PSU

Noggin @ UO Institute of Neuroscience!
2019-01-10 16:00 - 17:00 | Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 222 Huestis Hall, Eugene, OR, 97401, United States
WHAT: Noggin presentation at the University of Oregon Institute of Neuroscience (ION)

We did it! Learn more about ION & Noggin at the link..!
Ducks, Fish, Art & Brains!

WHERE: Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 222 Huestis Hall, Eugene, OR 97401
WHEN: Thursday, January 10, 4-5pm

Jeff Leake and Bill Griesar of NW Noggin are invited to present a seminar on arts integrated neuroscience outreach at the Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Oregon in Eugene!

We’re excited to meet with students and faculty (including Kate Mills, Elliot Berkman, Bill Harbaugh and Marjorie Taylor), and explore the terrific art and science outreach efforts of ION and the Eugene Science Center! We’ll bring (extra) brains, make art and discuss outreach throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond..!

ITINERARY: NWNoggin Agenda_Final UO 1_19
Thank you Rachel Lukowicz in Adam Miller’s Lab at the Institute of Neuroscience for organizing a full day of events, including a NeuroArt Tour of campus, lunch with Womyn in Neuroscience, and the chance to meet the inspiring neuroscientists and artists who created the celebrated Museum of Scientifically Accurate Fabric Brain Art!

Warm Glow, or fabricMRI: Bill‘s Brain, by Marjorie Taylor (2009)
SLIDES (ppt): Brain Awareness SLIDES 2019 WIDE SMALL
SLIDES (pdf): Brain Awareness SLIDES 2019 WIDE SMALL

Join us if you’d like to connect with fellow grad students and undergrads at the University of Oregon! Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu and jleake@pdx.edu…

Drosophila Fly Head, by Wayne Chabre
NOGGIN WRANGLER
Aaron Eisen, PSU Neuro Club

Future neuroscientists, inspired by arts-integrated community outreach…

Noggin @ BRAIN WATCH!
2019-01-16 06:30 - 12:30 | Providence St. Vincent Hospital, 9205 SW Barnes Rd., Portland, OR, 97225, United States
WHAT: Noggin @ Providence Brain Watch surgical experience
We did it! (well – the amazing Dr. Deshmukh @ Providence hospital did :)…
More details at the link…
What is brain surgery like?

LEARN MORE: What is brain surgery like?
LEARN MORE: The scalpel raised
WHERE: Souther Auditorium, St. Vincent Hospital East Pavilion, 9155 SW Barnes Rd, Portland, OR 97225
WHEN: Wednesday, January 16, 2019, 6:30am – noon

Sketches by Noggin Art Coordinator Jeff Leake…
NW Noggin is thrilled to bring 30 Fort Vancouver high school students, outreach volunteers and chaperones to discover healthcare careers, and view an actual brain surgery at Providence St. Vincent Hospital! Learn more about PROVIDENCE BRAIN WATCH, our plans and past visits to this extraordinary educational program at the links…
See what we learned and experienced in 2017…
Living brain, successful surgery

See what we learned and experienced in 2016…
Brain Watch Wednesday!

Many thanks to the surgeon, medical staff and Brain Watch organizers at Providence for this unique educational opportunity!!
LEARN MORE ABOUT NOGGIN + FORT VANCOUVER HIGH AT THE LINK…

Noggin @ Fort Vancouver!

Neuroscience outreach group: Growing in Networks
Crossing state, age, institutional & disciplinary lines for innovative volunteer educational outreach, thanks to our extraordinary community partners…!
LEARN MORE ABOUT NW NOGGIN PARTNERS AT THE LINK!
Collaborators

CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS
Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin Resource Council (Hospital/healthcare outreach)
Bill Griesar, PSU/OHSU/NW Noggin
Jeff Leake, PSU/NW Noggin
Sulema Rodriguez, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
McKenzie Figuracion, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Heather Hamilton, PSU/Neuro Club/NIH BUILD EXITO
Sai Kiersarsky, PSU/Neuro Club/Advanced Neurophys TA
Michael Deveney, PSU/Neuro Club/Advanced Neurophys TA
Sara Moreno, PSU
Veronika Lobova, WSU Vancouver

Noggin @ Skyridge
2019-01-17 10:15 - 15:10 | Skyridge Middle School, 5220 NW Parker Street, Camas, WA, 98607, United States
WHAT: Noggin @ Skyridge Middle School

We did it! ***260 6th graders!!
LEARN MORE AT THE LINK…
Best brain scientists!

WHERE: Skyridge Middle School, 5220 NW Parker St, Camas, WA 98607
WHEN: Thursday, January 17, 10:15am – 3:10pm
Contact: Raeleen Gilman, Skyridge Middle School
Core 1 Science class 10:30-11:50am
Core 2 Science class 12:25-1:43pm
Core 3 Science class 1:47 – 3:05pm
Noggin volunteers from Portland State University, OHSU and other area campuses will meet with students at Skyridge, introducing them to neuroscience research and art projects related to understanding the brain…

Neuron in stainless steel and copper by Darrin Lane
We are also excited to welcome PSU volunteer and metal artist Darrin Lane, who will attempt to add additional and bigger 10″ wheels to further enhance the stability and off-road capabilities of our Noggin brain cart, designed by artist Matt Cartwright!

See what we’ve done before at Skyridge at the links..!
Radiating enthusiasm @ Skyridge

Curiosity’s Sky-High at Skyridge!

The Homunculus Dance @ Skyridge

Synaptic Pruning @ Skyridge

Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu and jleake@pdx.edu
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Aaron Eisen , PSU/PSU Neuro Club
Greyson Moore, PSU
Darrin Lane, PSU
Robby Heiberg, PSU

Neuron Screen/Block Printing Night!
2019-01-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Smith Center, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, 97201, United States
WHAT: PSU Neuro Club Screen/Block Printing Neuron Night!
We did it! T-shirts, tote bags, plus prints that will (ultimately) go up on both Noggin and Neuro Club walls…

Artist and Noggin Arts Resource Council member Kanani Miyamoto at PSU…
WHERE: Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 294, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
WHEN: Thursday, January 17th, 6:30 – 8:30pm

Don’t build a wall – build a network! A network of neurons!

Artwork by Portland State University Neuroscience Club. These are going on our walls… 🙂

Noggin @ MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility
2019-01-23 12:30 - 16:30 | MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, 2630 N Pacific Hwy, Woodburn, 97071, United States
WHAT: Noggin visit to MacClaren Youth Correctional Facility
We did it! Our thanks to Kathleen Fullerton of the HOPE Partnership and the inspiring young people we met with at MacLaren. Learn more at the link…
Making things, understanding why

WHERE: MacClaren Youth Correctional Facility, 2630 N Pacific Hwy, Woodburn, OR 97071
WHEN: Wednesday, January 23, **12:30p – 4:30pm**

“Because the brain is undergoing such rapid, fundamental changes at this stage of life, adolescents have a heightened capacity to learn and to [grow] out of risky behavior. Given an environment and supports appropriate to their developmental stage, most young offenders have the potentialto become law-abiding adults.” — The MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Law and Neuroscience

We returned to make art with young people who had challenging questions, and are motivated and fascinated by neuroscience research…
Learn more at these links…

LEARN MORE: Youth get visual, hands-on experience with the brain
Corrections, Bias & Brains

COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Jeff Leake, PSU/NW Noggin
Bill Griesar, PSU/OHSU/NW Noggin
Emma Schifsky, OHSU
Nathali May, PSU
Taylor Stewart, University of Portland
Eileen Torres, OHSU
Sara Moreno, PSU
Brittany Alperin, OHSU
Aaron Eisen, PSU
Amanda Saideepane, PSU
Madison-Cho Richmond, PSU
Chandelle Bates, PSU
Cam Howard, PSU

Noggin @ Twality Middle School
2019-01-24 09:00 - 13:30 | Twality Middle School, 14650 SW 97th Ave, Tigard, 97224, United States
WHAT: Noggin visit to Twality Middle School, Tigard-Tualatin School District
We did it! Awesome day with several hundred middle schoolers!

WHERE: Twality Middle School, 14650 SW 97th Ave, Tigard, OR 97224
WHEN: Thursday, January 24, 2019
Contact: Bayard Lyons, Science Teacher

1st period: 9:19 – 10:04
2nd period: 10:08 – 10:53
LUNCH
3rd period: 11:33 – 12:18
4th period: 12:23 – 1:08
Noggin volunteers will ask students what they already know about brains, and what they’d like to know! We’ll also examine real brains and skulls, and make brain-related art..!

Come join us! Please rsvp to griesar@pdx.edu & jleake@pdx.edu
PLEASE NOTE: ALL volunteers are *required* to complete the following (short!!) online form before arrival at the school…
Tigard Tualatin School District Volunteer Application

COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Sarah Sheghewi, PSU
Aaron Eisen, Neuro Club, PSU
Darrin Lane, PSU
Robby Heiberg, PSU
Madi-Cho Richmond, PSU
Brenda Yan, PSU

Noggin @ McLoughlin Science Night!
2019-01-31 17:30 - 20:00 | McLoughlin Middle School, 7462, 5802 MacArthur Blvd, Vancouver, OR, 98661, United States
WHAT: Noggin @ Second Annual McLoughlin Middle School Science Night!
WHERE: McLoughlin Middle School, 7462, 5802 MacArthur Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661
WHEN: Thursday, January 31, 5:30 – 8:00pm
Contact: Tricia Goode, Science teacher, McLoughlin Middle School
We did it! GREAT night at “the Mac!”

LEARN MORE AT THE LINK!
The World Inside Their Heads

We are so excited to bring brains, research & art to the second annual Science Night at McLoughlin! From Tricia: “I have seen NW Noggin a few years ago when my students participated in the MESA challenge at WSU-Vancouver. It was awesome. I would love for more students to experience what you have to offer!”

COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS
Maverick Grey, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Nathan Allen, WSUV
Isidro Chan, PSU
Ashley Navarro, Mount Hood Community College
Jesus Martinez, PSU
Sydney Duran, PSU
Darrin Lane, PSU
Aaron Eisen, PSU/PSU Neuro Club
Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin
Veronika Lobova, WSUV
Liliana Prychyna, PSU
Cam Howard, PSU
Kelsey Payne, PSU
Jason Blume, PSU

Tree…or Purkinje cell?

NW Noggin LOVES Science & STEM + Arts (STEAM) Nights!

Future brain scientists!
Check out other nights we’ve enjoyed with volunteers, brains and art!
STEAM Ahead @ Ionotropic Irvington

Applied neuroscience – & STEAM

Sciencepalooza!

PSU Neuro Science Social!
2019-02-07 13:00 - 15:30 | Smith Center, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, 97201, United States
WHAT: PSU Neuro Club Science Social Night!
WHERE: Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 294, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
WHEN: Thursday, February 7th, 1:00 – 3:30pm

DOWNLOAD: Science Social Flyer

Noggin @ Health & Science School
2019-02-07 14:30 - 16:30 | Health & Science School, 18640 NW Walker Road, Beaverton, OR, 97006, United States
WHAT: Noggin visit to Middle School Science Club at Health & Science School
We did it! Learn more at the LINK…
Putting brains back in biology @ HS2

WHERE: Health & Science School (HS2), 18640 NW Walker Road, Beaverton, OR 97006 (in Beaverton Public Schools)

WHEN: Thursday, February 7, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
LEAD ORGANIZER: Jacob Schoen, OHSU/NW Noggin Resource Council

The Oregon National Primate Research Center has provided monthly after-school science activities for students at HS2 since 2011. Diana Gordon from the ONPRC invited us to join them in both February (on 2/7/19) and March (3/7/19) to discuss brain research & make art…

COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS
Jacob Schoen, OHSU/ONPRC
Bill Griesar, PSU/OHSU/NW Noggin
Isidro Chan, PSU
Shannon O’Sullivan, OHSU/ONPRC
Jason Blume, PSU
Madison Cho-Richmond, PSU
Aaron Eisen, PSU
Jesus Martinez, PSU
Darrin Lane, PSU
Brenda Yan, PSU
Cam Howard, PSU

Noggin @ American Medical Women's Association!
2019-02-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Smith Center, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, 97201, United States
WHAT: American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) meeting
We did it! Many thanks to our three BUILD EXITO volunteers!
LEARN MORE AT THE LINK…
Auras & Axons @ AMWA!

WHERE: Smith Memorial Student Union (Parkway North), 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
WHEN: Monday, February 11, 2019, 6:00 – 8:00pm

“I didn’t want to just know names of things. I remember really wanting to know how it all worked.” – Elizabeth Blackburn, winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
LEARN MORE: Blackburn Lab, University of California San Francisco

LEARN MORE: American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) PSU Chapter
The AMWA members serve as high school mentors, and would love to learn more about arts-integrated community outreach. Our volunteers will talk about career opportunities, and their own work in labs, as counselors, as undergraduates…

COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Sawyer Perry, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Isabella Maranghi, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
McKenzie Figuracion, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO

Noggin @ Bridges Middle School
2019-02-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Bridges Middle School, 2510 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR, 97201, United States
WHAT: Noggin visit to Bridges Middle School
We did it! Learn more at the LINK…
Making our own boxes, and brains!

WHERE: Bridges Middle School, 2510 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97201
WHEN: Thursday, February 14, 2019 (Happy Valentine’s Day!), 9 – 11:00am
Contact: Heather Hofeld, Science Teacher
“The most interesting people you’ll find are ones that don’t fit into your average cardboard box. They’ll make what they need, they’ll make their own boxes” –Dr. Temple Grandin

Bridges is one of the few schools in Oregon devoted to students with learning differences. We’ll meet with students in 5th through 8th grade, discover what they already know about brains, examine brains and make brain-related art…
From Science Teacher Heather Hofeld: “We have a wide range of cognitive ability at Bridges with students performing below grade level and those who could probably handle college course work! We have studied body systems and cells this year with the nervous system taking center stage right now. My students have already learned about the basics of neurons and have created paintings of neurons which are currently up in the hallway…

LEARN MORE: MAKE Brain Map
LEARN MORE: STEAM Projects
“I like the brain mapping activity. We are currently learning about the four major lobes of the brain and then we will investigate some of the substructures. A mapping activity might reinforce what we are doing right now.”

We’ll make two large brain maps on the floor with colored craft paper – one a side (lateral) view and one cut right down the middle, front to back (mid-sagittal). We’ll identify the different lobes (which students have been studying) with different colors. And then we’ll use different colored yarn to connect regions that are linked both structurally and functionally into networks.

Image by Aaron Eisen, PSU Neuro Club
From Eric Fezco at OHSU: “What might be interesting is to label the different large scale regions by systems, and then identify which systems may be implicated across ADHD and autism, depending on what might be altered behaviorally. We’ve been working on a study examining this in the context of executive function, so it might be a good fit here.”
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Eric Fezco, OHSU
Michael Deveney, PSU
Andrew Stanley, PSU
Bill Griesar, PSU/OHSU/NW Noggin
Jeff Leake, PSU/NW Noggin

PSU Neuro Club Valentine's Party!
2019-02-14 18:30 - 20:30 | Smith Center, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, 97201, United States
WHAT: PSU Neuro Club Valentine’s Day Party!
WHERE: Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 294, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
WHEN: Thursday, February 7th, 6:30 – 8:30pm

DOWNLOAD: Valentines Day Party flyer

Noggin in Grants Pass!
2019-02-20 - 2019-02-22 | North Middle School, 1725 NW Highland Ave, Grants Pass, OR, 97526, United States
WHAT: Noggin outreach in Grants Pass, Oregon!
We made it!
LEARN MORE: Post by Art Teacher Michael Endicott…
Gray Matter in Grants Pass!

LEARN EVEN MORE ABOUT NORTHWEST OUTREACH…
Synaptic Community Connections
Multiple undergraduate neuroscience classes, then a 250+ mile drive…

SNOW in the Cascades (We advised Joey to stay in Vancouver).

NEXT…a busy day of brains and art!
North students prepared a HUGE number of questions…

We did it!! Post coming soon…

ALL VOLUNTEER: No tuition, no textbooks, no access-denying admission charges, no canned elevator pitches, no institutional, overly professionalized scicomm “certificates.” We love genuine science communication, honest community connections, and creative engagement with the arts. Listening, inspiring, teaching and learning… 🙂
LEARN MORE: Community Neuroscience: How to Build an Outreach Organization
WHERE: North Middle School, 1725 NW Highland Ave, Grants Pass, OR 97526
WHEN: Wednesday, February 20 – Friday, February 22, 2019

“Every 100 feet the world changes” – Roberto Bolaño
Contact: Michael Endicott, Arts Teacher
LIMITED OPPORTUNITY: Multi-day outreach, with housing & meals provided.
We will work with ~288 students throughout Thursday. Each class will have about 30 students..!

Wednesday, February 20
Drive to Grants Pass; pizza dinner!
Housing provided at Red Lion, 1880 NW 6th St, Grants Pass, OR 97526
(Rooms: 1. Angela Hendrix, 2. Aaron Eisen & Joey Seuferling, 3. Cam Howard)

We arrived! Pizza & brews @ Oregon Pizza & Pour Authority…
Thursday, February 21
8:30am – 3:09pm; Outreach at North Middle School
Housing provided at Red Lion, 1880 NW 6th St, Grants Pass, OR 97526
(Rooms: 1. Angela Hendrix, 2. Aaron Eisen, 3. Cam Howard)

**GREAT DAY!! Over 350 6th & 7th graders!!

Friday, February 22
Breakfast @ hotel; Drive home!

COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS
1. Bill Griesar, PSU/OHSU/NW Noggin
2. Jeff Leake, PSU/NW Noggin
3. Angela Hendrix, NW Noggin
4. Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin (stayed home to safely avoid snow!)
5. Aaron Eisen, PSU/PSU Neuro Club
6. Cam Howard, PSU

Thank you Michael & Jill Endicott (and cats!) for your generous hospitality!

Supernatural Science: Battling Demons in the Brain
2019-02-23 17:30 - 18:30 | Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR, 97232, United States
WHAT: Noggin joins the “Psychology of Supernatural” panel at Portland’s Wizard World Comic-Con!

We did it! Learn more at this link…
Carry on my wayward son

WHERE: Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Portland, OR 97232
WHEN: Saturday, February 23, 5:30pm
PANEL LOCATION: B110
BRAIN VIEWING LOCATION (after panel): C125
“Join tens of thousands of fans as they converge at Wizard World Comic Con Portland to celebrate the best in pop culture…”

We’re excited to join the Wizard World Comic-Con panel on the “Psychology of Supernatural!”

“Every urban legend has a source. A place where it all began…” – Hook Man (2005)
READ THE BOOK: Supernatural Psychology: Roads Less Traveled
Bill Griesar of NW Noggin, Portland State University and OHSU will join Erin Currie, Adjunct Assistant Professor at PSU and Consultant at MyPsychgeek, and Janina Scarlett, a clinical psychologist, author and originator of Superhero Therapy at Wizard World Comic-Con on Saturday, February 23!

“Neurons are like Spiderman” -artwork by Portland State undergraduate Keys Le
LISTEN: Superhero Therapy Podcast E14: Psychology of Supernatural
We are excited (even depolarized!) to explore the psychological and neuroscience aspects of battling demons, perceiving ghosts, and the power of family support and storytelling to illuminate, guide and heal…

Perception and cognition depend on brains and bodies, and research is illuminating the rich inherent diversity in our unique, changeable and developing neural networks, and both the personal and shared experiences which shape who we are…

Your own thoughts, perceptions and experiences are genuine: so what’s going on..?
Grief, trauma, sleep disturbances, sleep paralysis, prosopagnosia, memory impairments, drug dependence, anxiety, PTSD, Capgras syndrome, panic disorder, temporal lobe epilepsy, macular degeneration, musical ear syndrome, Charles Bonnet, psychological biases and a host of other aspects of our remarkable brains and behavior may contribute to dramatic, “Supernatural” experiences.

“I guess I was seeing things.” “That doesn’t mean it wasn’t real.”
Brothers Sam and Dean suffer multiple traumatic losses throughout 14 seasons of this popular show, and cope with their pain differently, in both adaptive and maladaptive ways. We all struggle to regulate our emotions, and Sam appears to aim for a strategy known as re-appraisal by talking situations out with other people, including his brother, to consider new approaches. Dean, in contrast, tends towards suppression and distraction through alcohol and one night stands – but also, of course, by fighting monsters (“My peace is helping people, working cases; that’s all I want to do”)…

“You’re tailspinning man, and you refuse to talk about it and you won’t let me help you” -Sam to Dean, from Heart (season 2, episode 17)
LEARN MORE: Antecedent- and response-focused emotion regulation: divergent consequences for experience, expression, and physiology
Re-appraisal is usually a more effective strategy, partly because it prepares you to respond less fearfully or impulsively to (for example) a hex bag or a crossroads demon, rather than trying to clamp down on your emotions once a “fight or flight” response is in full swing.

Cortical networks (indicated in blue) are involved in perceptual aspects of what you’re experiencing, attending to and deciding, while networks in red (involving both subcortical and cortical regions) drive faster, more impulsive, emotional responses…
LEARN MORE: Functional imaging studies of emotion regulation: A synthetic review and evolving model of the cognitive control of emotion
There are moving, therapeutic conversations between the brothers, and between the brothers and other characters (including fellow Hunter Bobby Singer and the angel Castiel), involving efforts to remind each other of family loyalty and support, and consider options in more positive and effective ways.
Yet a quick, fear or anger-driven emotional impulsive response might be essential in many other circumstances encountered in the show. If a Wendigo is racing towards you at lightning speed, you want all the sympathetic nervous system activation you can get! And of course, a Rakshasa dressed as a clown is going to increase Sam’s heart rate and blood pressure (mine too!) no matter how much re-appraisal he’s done…

Efforts to regulate emotions through re-appraisal and suppression tend to decrease activity in a brain region known as the amygdala (a), while increasing the activity of networks in the frontal lobe, including the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) (b), dorsolateral PFC (d), and medial PFC (c) that are critical for inhibiting impulsive emotional responses…
LEARN MORE: Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation

“And like you say, we’re family – and we don’t leave family behind” -Dean to Castiel
When we see character struggles on a celebrated TV show, it resonates with our own traumatic experiences. You are not alone in experiencing stress, and one way to cope is to find meaning – connection with others, loyalty to family, a life purpose, a valued and critical skill…
We’ve also referenced actor Jared Padelecki’s efforts to educate about depression in the past…

Changing Brain Waves of Depression

Breathe, by Pacific Northwest artist Sienna Morris
“Family’s everything you know” -Dean
LEARN MORE: Always Keep Fighting
So…which pipe cleaner neuron best embodies the Supernatural Devil..? 🙂

Liking the red of the rosehip neuron – but maybe something more dopaminergic… 😏😈
LEARN MORE: Rosehip neurons in pipe cleaners!

Decided on a motivational dopaminergic neuron from the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which responds to stimuli predicting delivery of some reward…

The Devil is in the dopamine… 🙂
LEARN MORE: New perspectives on catecholaminergic regulation of executive circuits

We’ll also have (extra!) human cerebrums available after the panel in C125 for anyone interested in asking more questions about the relationship between perception, cognition, behavior and our brains…
COMMITTED BRAIN WRANGLER PARTICIPANTS
Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin
Jeff Leake, Art Coordinator, NW Noggin
Andrew Stanley, PSU

Noggin @ Hosford Middle School!
2019-02-28 09:00 - 13:30 | Hosford Middle School, 2303 SE 28th Pl, Portland, OR, 97214, United States
WHAT: Noggin at Hosford Middle School (Portland Public Schools)
We did it! Learn more at the link!
Honest selves @ Hosford

WHERE: Hosford Middle School, 2303 SE 28th Pl, Portland, OR 97214
WHEN: THURSDAY, February 28, 9:00am – 1:30; meet at the school office
CONTACTS: Amy Slaughter, Assistant Principal, Hosford Middle School; Jane VanDam, Science teacher; Kevin Marquardt, Science teacher

Hosford offers a Mandarin immersion program!
Here are some neuro-related words in Mandarin…

Brain: 脑 (nǎo)
Neuroscience: 神经科学 (Shénjīng kēxué)

https://nwnoggin.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Mandarin-Translation.m4a

Translation provided by Luyao Wang, undergraduate in Psychology at PSU

There are significant benefits to bilingual education in both children and adults, including evidence of changes in the white matter wiring of linked cortical regions essential for executive function (decision making, working memory, attentional control), and a reduced risk of cognitive decline with age…

“Let Knowledge Serve the City”
LEARN MORE: Bilingual Two-Way Immersion Programs Benefit Academic Achievement
LEARN MORE: Language Experience Changes Language and Cognitive Ability
LEARN MORE: The effects of bilingualism on the white matter structure of the brain
LEARN MORE: Latino Network Learning & Lobes

See what we did last year @ Hosford!
High energy Hosford: Tumors, music & drugs!

COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Sawyer Perry, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Robby Heiberg, PSU
Andrew Stanley, PSU
Kyle Stinson, PSU
Katie Pope, PSU
Isidro Chan, PSU
Liliana Prychyna, PSU (9-11:30am)
Sydney Duran, PSU
Armand Beikzadeh, PSU (9-11:30am)
Alejandro Rios, PSU (11:30 – 1:30pm))
Mark Thompson, PSU (10 – 1:30pm)
Aaron Eisen, PSU (10 – 1:30pm)

PSU Neuro Club Showcase Symposium!
2019-02-28 18:30 - 20:30 | Smith Center, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, 97201, United States
WHAT: PSU Neuro Club Showcase Symposium!
WHERE: Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 294, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
WHEN: Thursday, February 7th, 6:30 – 8:30pm

DOWNLOAD: Showcase Symposium flyer

Noggin @ p:ear!
2019-03-05 10:00 - 12:00 | OR
WHAT: Noggin @ p:ear!
WHERE: p:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
WHEN: Tuesday, March 5, 2019, 10:00am – noon

Noggin is returning to P:ear, a remarkable Portland organization aimed at building positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth through education, art and recreation to affirm their personal worth and help them create more meaningful and healthier lives…

We are excited to communicate science through the extraordinary volunteer efforts of our talented graduate and undergraduate Noggin participants from Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, the Pacific Northwest College of Art, and other collaborators.!

Learning about the brain, and behavior, and the evidence-based structural and functional aspects of who we are is powerful and actionable information for everyone, including young people struggling, like many, with anxiety, depression, drugs, bias, chronic stress – and the poverty, isolation, racism, homophobia, lack of affordable housing and other factors that can impact development.

LEARN MORE: Noggin @ p:ear
Join us! Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu and jleake@pdx.edu
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Aaron Eisen, PSU
Sarah Beyeler, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon
Emily Burgess, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Diane Duncan, PSU
Brenda Yan, PSU
Cam Howard, PSU

Noggin @ Health & Science School
2019-03-07 14:30 - 16:30 | Health & Science School, 18640 NW Walker Road, Beaverton, OR, 97006, United States
WHAT: Noggin visit to Middle School Science Club at Health & Science School
WHERE: Health & Science School, 18640 NW Walker Road, Beaverton, OR 97006

WHEN: Thursday, March 7, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
LEAD ORGANIZER: Jacob Schoen, OHSU/NW Noggin Resource Council

The Oregon National Primate Research Center has provided monthly after-school science activities for students at HS2 since 2011. Diana Gordon from the ONPRC invited us to join them in both February (on 2/7/19) and March (3/7/19) to discuss brain research & make art…

This week we’ll be messing with our taste buds and exploring links between sensory detection and perception of taste and flavor…

See what we did last month at HS2! And learn how to TAKE ACTION to add brains back into the K-12 biology curriculum, where it belongs. Adolescence is a time of tremendous brain growth and change, and students want to know…
Putting brains back in biology @ HS2

It’s not the teachers: Federal and state Next Generation Science Standards NEED brains…
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Ruth Marigomen, WSUV
Emily Carr, PSU FRINQ
Aaron Eisen, PSU Neuro Club
Johnny Uriarte-Lopez, PSU Neuro Club
Jason Blume, PSU
Cam Howard, PSU
Travis Wellendorf, Art Institute of Portland
Darrin Lane, PSU

Brain Awareness Week 2019!
2019-03-11 - 2019-03-17 | OR
Here’s what our volunteers are up to this week!!
Brain Awareness Week!

Read our interview with the Dana Foundation about Brain Awareness Week…
NW Noggin: Interview with the Dana Foundation!

And check our Noggin calendar for what we’ve got planned..!
BAW Events at links below…
Noggin joins ABCD Family Night @ OHSU!

Great experience! The ABCD Study is exploring changes in both the structure and function of developing brains, and behavior, by following a cohort of kids through their adolescence…
Noggin @ p:ear!

P:ear is an extraordinary homeless youth center, where we love to answer questions and learn more from wonderful young Portlanders without access to safe housing. We’re visiting here every Tuesday to show brains, and make art…

We visited Oregon Public Broadcasting to talk more brains and art!
Listen to “Combining Neuroscience And Art” on Spreaker.
Bill Griesar, who teaches psychology and neuroscience at Portland State University, teamed up with artist Jeff Leake to create a nonprofit called NW Noggin. Their goal is to engage kids through both art and science to help them learn about their how their brains work.
Noggin @ HeLa High!

We returned to this awesome Evergreen Public School to mess with our taste buds, and investigate the relationship between sensory detection and perception..! We enjoyed access to the official Instagram account for PSU this same day, too 🙂
Noggin @ Brain Fair

One of the largest Brain Fairs ever! Join us at OMSI on Saturday…

Noggin joins ABCD Family Night @ OHSU!
2019-03-11 17:00 - 19:30 | OHSU Auditorium, OHSU, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, United States
WHAT: ABCD Family Night at OHSU!
We did it!

WHERE: OHSU Auditorium, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239; parking in Lot 10 (free!)

WHEN: Monday, March 11th, 2019, 5pm-7:30pm

Tonight was an Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study celebration for participants and their families hosted by the OHSU research site. NW Noggin volunteers made art, exhibited brains and answered many questions… 🙂

This is the Nation’s largest and most successful Neurodevelopmental study.

We enjoyed the opportunity to meet and work along with staff and students from the Developmental Brain Imaging (DBIL) Lab, The FAIR Lab and The TRAC Lab.

LEARN MORE: Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Aaron Eisen, PSU
Jason Blume, PSU
Amber Schwartz, PSU/OHSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Cam Howard, PSU
Greyson Moore, PSU
Isidro Chan, PSU
Graham Gardner, PSU
Michael Deveney, PSU
Deza’Rae Collins, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
LEARN MORE…
Brain Awareness Week!

Noggin @ p:ear!
2019-03-12 10:00 - 12:00 | P:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
WHAT: Noggin @ p:ear!
WHERE: p:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
WHEN: Tuesday, March 12, 2019, 10:00am – noon

Noggin is returning to P:ear, a remarkable Portland organization aimed at building positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth through education, art and recreation to affirm their personal worth and help them create more meaningful and healthier lives…

We are excited to communicate science through the extraordinary volunteer efforts of our talented graduate and undergraduate Noggin participants from Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, the Pacific Northwest College of Art, and other collaborators.!

Learning about the brain, and behavior, and the evidence-based structural and functional aspects of who we are is powerful and actionable information for everyone, including young people struggling, like many, with anxiety, depression, drugs, bias, chronic stress – and the poverty, isolation, racism, homophobia, lack of affordable housing and other factors that can impact development.

LEARN MORE: Noggin @ p:ear

COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin
Cam Howard, PSU
Jordan Ray, PSU
Greyson Moore, PSU
Aaron Eisen, PSU
Andrew Stanley, PSU
Mary Lerner, PSU

Noggin @ HeLa High!
2019-03-14 08:00 - 12:00 | He La High School, 9105 NE 9th St, Vancouver, WA, 98664, United States
WHAT: NW Noggin visit to HeLa High
We did it!

WHERE: Henrietta Lacks High School, 9105 NE 9th St., Vancouver, WA, 98664
WHEN: Thursday, March 14, 2018, 8:00am – 12:00pm

Noggin volunteers from Portland State University, OHSU and other area campuses will meet with about 400 students at Henrietta Lacks High School, to discuss neuroscience research and make art related to understanding our brains…

And we’ll be taking over PSU’s official Instagram page today too!
portlandstate

See what’ve done at HeLa in the past…
Hallucinations @ HeLa High

Hella Bright at HeLa

Hippocampal hordes at HeLa High

Brains for 437 @ HeLa High!

COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Aaron Eisen, PSU
Lelani Lealiiee-Sjoden, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Liliana Prychyna, PSU
Jason Blume, PSU
Michael Deveney, PSU
Cam Howard, PSU
Darrin Lane, PSU
Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin
Angela Hendrix, NW Noggin
Keys Le, PSU
Greyson Moore, PSU
Bradley Mahoney, WSUV
Robby Heiberg, PSU

PSU Neuro Club Dead Week Daze!
2019-03-14 12:00 - 14:00 | Smith Center, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, 97201, United States
WHAT: PSU Neuro Club DEAD WEEK Daze!
WHERE: Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 296/298, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
WHEN: Thursday, February 7th, 12:00 – 2:00pm

DOWNLOAD: Dead Week Daze flyer

Noggin @ Brain Fair
2019-03-16 08:30 - 17:00 | Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, 1945 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR, 97214, United States
WHAT: OHSU/OMSI BRAIN FAIR
We did it! Twenty boxes of nitrile gloves! That’s 1000 people holding brains!!
Bringing BRAINS to Brain Fair 🙂

WHERE: Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, 1945 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR 97214
WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 2018, 9:00am – 5:00pm
(set up 8:30 – 9:30am! Event starts @ 10am)

One of the nation’s largest Brain Fairs is this Saturday, and concludes the 2019 Brain Awareness Week..!
Brain Awareness Week!

Come join Noggin and the PSU Neuroscience Club for an awesome day at OMSI! OHSU promises coffee all day, and free admission to the museum!

However, NW Noggin will not only put the (real) brains in Brain Fair, but also provide pizza and snacks – and homemade “BRAIN COOKIES” from Tara Leake! – for our outstanding volunteers 🙂

See what we did last year!
Putting the brains in Brain Fair!

Pipe Cleaners, Gel Prints, Electrodes & Brains!

COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS

Thank you: Informed, exceptional, caring, BUSY outreach volunteers!!
Maverick Grey, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Aaron Eisen, PSU Neuro Club
Sierra Baca, WSUV
Vanessa Batulayan, PSU
McKenzie Figuracion, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Jesus Martinez, PSU
Kyle Stinson, PSU
Jeehoon Jung, WSUV
Julia Gullikson, PSU
Johnny Uriarte-Lopez, PSU Neuro Club
Jason Blume, PSU
Cam Howard, PSU
Sydney Duran, PSU
Michael Deveney, PSU
Sara Moreno, PSU
Brenda Yan, PSU
Darrin Lane, PSU
Sai Kiersarsky, PSU
Nicco Martin, Kapiolani Community College
Stephanie Paulsen, PSU
Royce Yoshimura, Kapiolani Community College
Iris Guttierez, WSUV (until 3:00pm)
Paul Delahanty, PSU
Leah Arkills-Mclain, PSU
Bradley Mahoney, WSUV
Robby Heiberg, PSU
Kindra Crick, NW Noggin
Cora Crick
Natalia Stoner, PSU (8:30 – 10:30am)
Abby Kosiara, OHSU
Catherine Caine, Hawaii/USA Teacher of the Year (2015)

Noggin @ p:ear!
2019-03-19 10:00 - 12:00 | P:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
WHAT: Noggin @ p:ear!
WHERE: p:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
WHEN: Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 10:00am – noon

Noggin is returning to P:ear, a remarkable Portland organization aimed at building positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth through education, art and recreation to affirm their personal worth and help them create more meaningful and healthier lives…

We are excited to communicate science through the extraordinary volunteer efforts of our talented graduate and undergraduate Noggin participants from Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, the Pacific Northwest College of Art, and other collaborators.!

Learning about the brain, and behavior, and the evidence-based structural and functional aspects of who we are is powerful and actionable information for everyone, including young people struggling, like many, with anxiety, depression, drugs, bias, chronic stress – and the poverty, isolation, racism, homophobia, lack of affordable housing and other factors that can impact development.

LEARN MORE: Noggin @ p:ear

Seeing us all through research & art

“Not only are people on the streets affected, but those of us who sleep in our own beds each night also have our brains impacted by homelessness, perhaps through less activation of cerebral networks required to fully humanize those in our community in need of our acknowledgement and support…”
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Madi Cho-Richmond, PSU
Cam Howard, PSU
Catherine Caine, Hawaii State Teacher of the Year (2015)
Greyson Moore, PSU
Aaron Eisen, PSU
Andrew Stanley, PSU
Kyle Stinson, PSU

Noggin @ p:ear!
2019-04-02 10:00 - 12:00 | P:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
WHAT: Noggin @ p:ear!
WHERE: p:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
WHEN: Tuesday, April 2, 2019, 10:00am – noon

Noggin is returning to P:ear, a remarkable Portland organization aimed at building positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth through education, art and recreation to affirm their personal worth and help them create more meaningful and healthier lives…

LEARN MORE: Listening to testimony @ p:ear
We are excited to communicate science through the extraordinary volunteer efforts of our talented graduate and undergraduate Noggin participants from Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, the Pacific Northwest College of Art, and other collaborators.!

Learning about the brain, and behavior, and the evidence-based structural and functional aspects of who we are is powerful and actionable information for everyone, including young people struggling, like many, with anxiety, depression, drugs, bias, chronic stress – and the poverty, isolation, racism, homophobia, lack of affordable housing and other factors that can impact development.

LEARN MORE: Noggin @ p:ear
Join us! Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu and jleake@pdx.edu
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin
Isabella Maranghi, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
Mary Lerner, PSU Neuro Club
Jesus Martinez, PSU
Anita Randolph, OHSU
Kyle Stinson, PSU
Christine Lee-Roth, OHSU
Brenda Yan, PSU
Jordan Ray, PSU
Amber Schwartz, PSU/OHSU
Isidro Chan, PSU
Greyson Moore, PSU
Cam Howard, PSU

STEAM Night @ Buckman Elementary School!
2019-04-10 18:30 - 20:00 | Buckman Elementary School, 320 SE 16th Ave, Portland, OR, 97214, United States
WHAT: Noggin @ Buckman STEAM Night!
We did it! And it was a blast..!

LEARN MORE: Brains to Buckman!

We hear so many great questions from going places, and leaving labs, classrooms and conferences. People asked about epilepsy, memory, development, alcohol, and comparative brain anatomy…
WHERE: Buckman Elementary School, 320 SE 16th Ave, Portland, OR 97214

WHEN: Wednesday, April 10, 6:30 – 8:00pm
Contact: Becca Beckman, SUN Site Coordinator, Buckman Elementary School
“The mission of Buckman Arts Focused Elementary School is to provide education through a rigorous arts-integrated curriculum designed to engage, excite and empower students.”

FROM BECCA: “That is awesome! Our theme is ‘Today’s STEAMers, tomorrow’s leaders.’ We’re looking to highlight careers in each field and specifically showcase women and POC in these fields. I am so excited to work with you. This event will be so fun.”

We LOVE STEAM Nights! See what we’ve done in other area schools…
The World Inside Their Heads

Sciencepalooza!

Applied neuroscience – & STEAM

STEAM Ahead @ Ionotropic Irvington

SERIOUSLY (& joyfully!): Letting Knowledge Serve the City
COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS
1. Aaron Eisen, PSU Neuro Club
2. Mary Lerner, PSU Neuro Club
3. Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin
4. Thomas Rounds, PSU
5. Nathali May, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
6. Emily Carl, PSU
7. Isidro Chan, PSU
8. Jason Blume, PSU
9. Phillip Bouleh, PSU
10. Kelsey Payne, PSU
11. Ashley Navarro, Mount Hood Community College
12. Keys Le, PSU
13. Veronika Lobova, WSUV
14. Jose Perez Quinchuela, PSU
15. Robby Heiberg, PSU
16. Greyson Moore, PSU
17. Michael Deveney, PSU
18. Cam Howard, PSU
19. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin
20. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin

Oregon/SWW SfN Chapter Meeting!
2019-04-12 - 2019-04-13 | McMenamin’s Edgefield, 2126 S.W. Halsey St., Troutdale, OR, 97060, United States
WHAT: Society for Neuroscience OR/SW WA Chapter Annual Meeting
We did it! More details at the link…
Brains & Sex @ SfN

WHERE: McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey Street, Troutdale, OR
WHEN: Friday, April 12 – Saturday, April 13, 2019

This year’s theme is sex differences in research.

Larry Cahill, Ph.D.
Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior
University of California, Irvine
“Sex influences on brain and body: An issue whose time has come”

Dena Dubal, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Neurology
University of California, San Francisco
“Why do women live longer? Dissecting sex differences in aging and neurodegenerative diseases”

Charles Roselli, Ph.D.
Professor, Physiology & Pharmacology
Oregon Health & Science University
“Nature’s choice: How brain differentiation influences sexual partner preferences”

MEETING SCHEDULE: Oregon/SWW Chapter Meeting 2019
PROGRAM & ABSTRACTS: SFN OR 2019 program

Learn about past Chapter meetings at the links!
Mental health @ McMenamin’s

Myelin @ McMenamin’s!

NOGGIN ABSTRACT!
NW Noggin: Synapses Stories and Song!

GRIESAR, W.S.* ** *** ****, LEAKE, J.* ** ***
Science needs investment and diverse perspectives, and integrating arts in STEM (STEAM) encourages more people to get involved.

Nonprofit NW Noggin (nwnoggin.org) organizes undergraduates and graduates to collaborate, build community networks and inspire people about neuroscience and art. Volunteers benefit from work across disciplines and institutions, serve as “near peer” role models, gain skill explaining research, and think creatively about careers. We’ve met over 30,000 K-12 students since 2012!

There is tremendous need to develop approaches to assist academic priority K-12 students, and offer access to social and economic benefits of education. Students struggle with academic achievement. The dropout rate for Native Americans is particularly high. Oregon has a rich Native culture and history, yet only in 2017 did the Legislature mandate a statewide K-12 curriculum for ‘tribal history,…sovereignty, culture, treaty rights, government, socioeconomic experiences, and current events.’

In 2017 we received a grant from Spirit Mountain Community Fund for outreach with tribal majority schools, aimed at making connections between animal figures in Grande Ronde and Siletz stories and neuroscience research.

In 2018 we engaged over 300 K-12 students through brain research, storytelling, music and art! We spent spring 2018 collaborating with the Oregon Pacific Area Health Education Center (OPAHEC) visiting students, teachers and staff at Siletz Valley Early College Academy, Amity and Willamina High Schools.

In summer, we joined award-winning Native storyteller Esther Stutzman at her annual camp in Curry County, to hear Coos and Kalapuya tales, and discuss relevant brain research.

In fall, Noggin volunteers from Portland State University and OHSU, along with Native storyteller Fish Martinez and puppeteer Ana Mello, spent three days telling stories, answering questions, holding brains, and connecting in classrooms through drumming, music, poetry, research and art!

Intel’s Native American Employees Network (INAN) prepared a “Noggin Brain Box” filled with outreach project instructions, pens, paper, 3D printed brain models, and pipe cleaners for crafting brain cells. OPAHEC and Noggin also brought students to OHSU for a tour of MRI imaging facilities, to expand knowledge of clinical and research career options.

Building excitement and awareness of discoveries, educational options and careers through arts-integrated outreach across institutional, state, federal and generational lines trains new scientists to collaborate, engages more communities, and increases awareness and support for investment in brain research and the arts.

* NW Noggin (nwnoggin.org); ** Department of Psychology, Portland State University; *** Department of University Studies, Portland State University; **** Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University
LEARN MORE: Until the story takes shape

The Portland State University Neuroscience Club is presenting several posters, too, including…

DOWNLOAD: SfN-Chapter-Meeting-Club-Poster
LEARN MORE: How can you change your brain?
Title: K-12 students want to learn about neuroscience!
Authors: Eisen, A., Howard, C., Benefiel, J., Schmidt, J., Chapek, M., Lerner, M., Garduno, R., Uriarte-Lopez, J., Hamilton, H., Kiersarsky, A., Sumrall, L.
Correspondence: aaeisen@pdx.edu, camd@pdx.edu, benefiel@pdx.edu, julis4@pdx.edu, mchapek@pdx.edu, mlerner@pdx.edu, rgarduno@pdx.edu, jru@pdx.edu, ham28@pdx.edu, ak36@pdx.edu, sum5@pdx.edu; Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751
Abstract: The Neuroscience Club at Portland State University actively works to enrich local communities with taxpayer supported neuroscience research. Our members devote their time and effort into bringing education, art, and enthusiasm to our community. A primary focus of our outreach is directed at K-12 public schools with the objective of giving students opportunities to interact with science in ways they might not necessarily have had. We base our outreach on open inquiry and tie in elements of philosophy for children. The students have the opportunity to guide their own learning, which captures their enthusiasm and engagement for the subject. We have found the students maximize their learning when given the opportunity to ask open-ended questions in a supportive and understanding environment, prompting forth questions filled with both complexity and creativity that could baffle even the most experienced neuroscientists. Students engage the world around them and through the exploration of neuroscience, often draw upon personal experience to connect with others and stimulate thought. Through this process they can better understand themselves and the world around them. Students use the medium of art to support their understanding of advanced concepts guided by their own creativity and physical engagement with the content. Students screen-print works of neuronal art and twist pipe cleaner neurons to life, teaching them ways to engage art with science further while enhancing their understanding of the subject in a hands-on fashion. This poster was inspired by questions collected during an outreach event at North Middle School in Grants Pass, OR. These questions are representative of common student inquiries from all our community outreach events. Although the Neuroscience Club initially focused on students, the club has since expanded its reach to include more diverse populations. The Neuroscience Club’s objectives include nourishing the future generation of scientists and artists whilst allowing education to be fun and engaging and have a place to flourish in diverse communities.
Sources: NW NOGGIN: Neuroscience outreach group (growing in networks) – Building networks in the community through neuroscience education and art. (2019). Retrieved April 1, 2019, from https://nwnoggin.org/
