Introducing the brain to kindergarten students and doing a presentation on brain and stress to high school students

Event Description:

Within the scope of Brain Awareness Week, two different types of events were organized. First activity was organized to introduce the brain to kindergarten students. The second activity was organized for high school students to understand the functional aspects of the brain, to understand what stress is and how it occurs, and to understand how they can manage stress when they experience it. These events were organized by Firat Ozdemir, Yakup Erbilir, Oznur Karahan and Mert Besiktas under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evrim Gulbetekin and Dr. Ece Varlik Ozsoy in cooperation with Akdeniz University Department of Psychology and Psychology Application and Research Center.
First Activity: First, the brain was explained in simple terms to a group of 5-6 year old kindergarten students by interacting with them through a slide of brain photographs. It was explained in a fun way that the brain has right and left hemispheres, which tasks the brain takes part in, and what we need to do to protect our brain health. Afterwards, brain hats prepared in advance were distributed to the children. Finally, blank brain drawings on paper were colored by children in groups. This activity was also done with a group of 4 year olds who are students at another daycare center.
Second Activity: High school students from a school were invited to Akdeniz University. A presentation prepared in advance was presented to them and questions were answered at the end of the activity. The content of the presentation included topics such as what a neuron is, the structure of a neuron, the brain, parts of the brain, the lobes of the brain and their functions, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. The brain presentation was visual and video based. Right after the presentation explaining the brain, the presentation explaining stress was presented. The content of this presentation included topics such as what stress is, examples of moments of stress, how stress occurs, the relationship between stress and the brain, and finally how stress can be managed. Right after the end of the presentation, Akdeniz University Psychology Department was visited. The students were shown around the laboratory inside the department. During this time, Rubber Hand illusion and neuropsychological tests (Serial Digit Learning Test and Stroop Test) were performed for those who wanted to watch or participate. These tests and experiments were conducted by members (Burcu Gunay, Mertay Simsek, Beyza Aytekin) of the Akdeniz University Psychology Research and Application Laboratory. This presentation was later repeated at another high school.
In addition, the following psychology department students helped in this process:
Azra Ozkan, Arjen Suleymanoglu, Tayfun Yilmaz, Beyza Nur Cinar