In this course, students will learn the anatomy and physiology of various systems in the brain and apply what they know to fictitious neurological patients. Specifically, we will focus on the cerebral cortex, various sub-cortical structures, the visual system, somatosensory system, and the motor system in the brain and spinal cord. The culminating event on Friday will be a case-studies test where you will “act” like neurologists to predict where a lesion in the brain or spinal cord is in a person, as well as “acting” like neuroradiologists in order to predict the symptoms and prognosis of patients with particular nervous system lesions. 

We will be using a combination of picture- and video-intensive lectures and hands-on activities such as building model systems using Play-doh or Model Magic, dissecting a sheep brain, and engaging in lab activities and demos in order to explore the neuroanatomy of the visual system, somatosensory systems, and the motor systems. Campers will get to research various local labs prior to the Wednesday field trip, which will include touring a neuroimaging facility and a neuroscience lab, guest lectures by the researchers in those labs, and several Q&A sessions. The culminating assessment will be a partner test on Friday where campers get to “diagnose” fictitious patients coming to a neurology clinic as well as predict symptoms of a person based on pictures of their brain or spinal cord “radiographic images”.

On the last day of camp, parents will rotate to various stations staffed by the campers to experience some of the activities and labs for themselves, and then be taught neuroanatomy by the campers.

Enrichment Activities in the afternoons and evenings give campers the opportunity for informal science learning, as well as leadership and problem-solving training through workshops, experiments, guest speakers, and recreational activities. Students will also attend a mid-program excursion to a local science venue.

To register for this session: 

Use the Apply Now link

On page 3 of the application, select the following: 

Camp Category: Science Camps - Co-Ed

Camp Name: Neuroanatomy - Gr 9-10

• Rising 9-10 grade students should also consider Astrophysics and Robotics programs offered at Stanford, MIT, Tufts, and UCLA.
• Rising 8-9 grade female students should also consider the Science Camp For Girls Neuroanatomy programs offered at Stanford and UC Berkeley.