Pupils learn about brain function at Fort Discovery

Jackie Tilsner gave Rashad Randolph, a Greensboro Elementary School pupil, one minute to look over an assortment of items and commit them to memory.

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Several coins, some miniature plastic farm animals, a tube of lipstick and a hair clip were among the items.

"I'm ready," he said, seconds short of the minute.

Ms. Tilsner covered the items, and Rashad listed as many as he could remember.

The memory exercise was one of several activities related to brain function.

"The purpose is to bring awareness about the brain," said Ms. Tilsner, a student in the Medical College of Georgia's neuroscience program, speaking about the activities at the National Science Center's Fort Discovery on Saturday.

On Fort Discovery's lower level were displays about the five senses, the brain's development and the effects of drugs on the brain.

There also were three programs in the Power Station related to brain function.

"Bitter tastes usually mean bad," said Dr. Lynette McCluskey in a session called Tasty! How Tastes Signal Your Brain.

Those attending the program took part i n a taste test. Participants dipped cotton swabs into vials containing chemicals that represented tastes such as salty, sour and sweet.

Other Power Station programs included learning and memory and about the visual system.

Earlier in the week, there were two other presentations as part of Brain Awareness Week. On March 12, there was a program about the nervous system, and on March 13, there was a program about how the brain responds to drugs.