Neuroscience Fair

The Neuroscience Fair takes place during MSU Science Festival on the Saturday of Expo Weekend.

Learn about the nervous system by watching demonstrations and engaging in hands-on activities to learn about the senses, the anatomy of the nervous system, how to protect your brain, how to make neuroscience-themed crafts, how the nervous system interacts with the rest of the body, and more!

Activities include: 

Crafts & Games

• Animal brain scanner: It’s time for the toys to get a check-up 
• Brain puzzle: Put together all the pieces to make a complete brain
• Color a brain: Color different structures on plaster brains and take them home
• Dress up like a neuroscientist: Pretend you are a neuroscientist and take pictures
• Face painting: Show off your neuroscience pride with face paint
• Make a neuron: Learn about the different parts of neurons and make your own
• Spine model: Learn about our spinal cord and how it is protected by the spinal column. Make your own spinal cord bracelet

Sensory & Movement

• Brain tricks: Look at optical illusions. Seeing isn’t always believing
• Goofy goggles: Complete tasks while wearing vision-altering goggles
• Race to perfection: See how fast your brain can make your hand solve the puzzle
• Reaction time: See how fast you can catch a dropped ruler
• Touch and perception: Test how your skin perceives touch and temperature

Anatomy

• Animal brains: Compare structures across species
• Cow eyes: See the different parts of an eye up close
• Human brains: Look at real human brains
• Protect your brain: See how your brain is protected in your head 

Nervous System Function

• Hungry hungry neurons: Learn about how neurons in our brain control our appetite
• Mindfulness: Learn about how mindfulness benefits our health and do a short, guided meditation 
• Mirror tracing: Try to trace a shape by looking at only your reflection
• Nervous breakdown: Watch how a neurologist evaluates your nervous system
• Parkinson's perspectives: Learn how certain tasks are more difficult with Parkinson’s disease