SCC to host Brain Week March 10-13

Published: 02/25/2014

All activities will take place in the auditorium of the Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building unless otherwise noted.

Neuroplasticity in Amputees
10 a.m. Monday, March 10
The relationship between mind and body is one of the problems psychology was born to explore. Many startling discoveries have been made by studying the changes in the brains of amputees. This talk with Mitch Harden, assistant professor of psychology, will explore the topics of phantom limb pain, telescoping and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Neuroscience Demonstrations
10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday, March 11 and 13
Students from Mitch Harden’s brain and behavior class will do live neuroscience demonstrations. They will also showcase their posters and videos made for the class. 

Mental Illness: Is it Just a Different Brain?
1 p.m. Tuesday, March 11
Our understanding of mental illness has advanced rapidly in recent decades. New tools in genetics and neuroscience have uncovered significant pieces of the puzzle. Scientists also agree that key environmental risk factors are what link these pieces together. This presentation aims to explain what may cause mental illness based on collective effects of basic brain mechanisms and the environments. 

Lunchtime Trivia
Noon Wednesday, March 12
Students will partake in some fun women’s history-related trivia at Cougar Café in the Student Center. 

“Tracy and Jess” Film
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12
The documentary “Tracy and Jess” is about two women diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at early ages. The film focuses on the challenges and triumphs of Tracy, Jess and their families. The film showing will be followed up with a question-and-answer portion with filmmaker, Jim Dreyer, and dementia-sufferer and documentary star, Jess Dreyer.

Adolescence and Crime – Doesn’t the Brain Make Me Innocent?
1 p.m. Thursday, March 13
This presentation will focus on the development of the prefrontal cortex as well as the emotion regulation centers in the brain, including whether the development of these areas impact teen delinquency and decision making, and if teens should be held responsible for their crimes.

For more information on the events celebrating Brain Week, contact Mandi Smith at asmith@stchas.edu.

For accommodation information, e-mail accessibilityservice@stchas.edu.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit www.stchas.edu.