Interested in the function of certain brain areas, or even identifiers of illness in preserved bodily parts? Just ask our Year 10 psychology students!
On Wednesday 24 April, students had the pleasure of visiting an exhibition based in the Royal Brisbane Hospital, with the aim of learning more about the brain and its functions in accordance with their current topic “criminal minds.
There, they were greeted by Rebecca, who accompanied the students throughout this unique opportunity. She highlighted the significance of this excursion, stating “it’s an important opportunity because you actually get to see the real specimen rather than looking online, so people can feel connected to the disease, and build empathy. Overall, it’s an incredibly educational experience.”
And these donated specimens weren’t just brains; hands, eyes, lungs - you name it, it was there!
Grade 10 Psychology teacher, Miss Franco, strongly corroborated the value of this trip, discussing how “..it’s an incredibly fascinating opportunity for students to learn and explore anatomy and pathologies of the brain..”
As one of the lucky students who came along, it’s impossible to disagree with these statements!
From guided worksheets and group presentations to analysis of brain sectors and discussion of functions, the entire experience was unique, engrossing, and occasionally stomach churning - all elements of a truly excellent excursion!
For those curious to discover more, outlined below are a couple topics from the day. But warning, they can get a bit gruesome!
- If tapeworms are contracted through consumption of raw pork, they can lay eggs in the brain, resulting in cognitive and motor difficulties, alongside possible rearrangement of neural pathways. This was a hit topic amongst students, with many wanting to know more about the impacts and observe the specimen further.
- When deposited calcium fat begins to line the artery wall, it prevents blood from getting through, causing the death (necrosis) of surrounding tissue. This was observed as a large, black clot in the brain. It was then discussed how rehabilitation is possible for survivors, but that the brain generally cannot be returned to its previous condition.
- Lobotomies were another very popular topic amongst the flock. Advertised in articles as the “brain operation to cure worry,” lobotomies entailed inserting a rod-like instrument through a gap above the eye to purposefully damage the frontal lobe. This operation resulted in severe memory, emotional and impulse control issues, alongside detriment to many other core cognitive functions. Luckily, they were argued against by numerous researchers, and have since been discontinued.
From tapeworm tales to artery analysis, our Year 10 psychology goslings wholeheartedly enjoyed this remarkable opportunity: and it’s certainly not hard to see why!
Article written by Natalie Nagy, Year 10