Lower Sixth Given a lot to Think about on 鈥楤rain Day鈥�
On Wednesday, Lower Sixth Psychology pupils took part in ‘Brain Day’, a full-day programme of neuroscience seminars and hands-on activities exploring the latest developments in brain science.
The day opened with a sweep through brain anatomy and function, touching on some striking new research 鈥� including the discovery that consciousness may persist for up to ten minutes after death. Pupils also heard about the growing body of evidence linking vaping, cannabis, junk food and heavy smartphone and TikTok use to adverse effects on adolescent brain development. One of the most thought-provoking sessions examined the impact of lockdown on the developing brain. Research has shown that COVID-era restrictions disrupted pupils’ ability to self-regulate, stay focused and adapt to new situations 鈥� with the greatest effects seen in children who were aged four or five at the start of the first lockdown. Striking sex differences also emerged: on average, female brains aged several years faster than male brains during the pandemic, a finding attributed to the impact of social isolation on the female brain.
A highlight for many was the sheep brain dissection, where pupils poked and prodded key areas of the mammalian brain, bringing classroom theory to life.
The afternoon turned to the criminal brain, raising deep questions about free will, culpability and the future of justice. Pupils examined case studies of mentally disordered offenders who showed patterns of brain activity linked to severe childhood abuse, raising complex questions about moral responsibility. Looking ahead, the session explored how neurotechnology may transform the criminal justice system: from neural decoding (and its implications for brain privacy) to the possibility of neural limiters 鈥� implants or wearable devices that could monitor impulsive thoughts and deliver real-time interventions 鈥� as an alternative to custodial sentencing.
The day left pupils with plenty to think about, which is, after all, exactly what the brain is for.
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