Visit from Dr Deane Hutton

05/09/2007

Berri PS were enthralled by science at work when we had a visit from Dr Deane Hutton

Term 2 was off to an exciting start when we had a visit from Dr Deane Hutton. He empowered students by telling them they each have 100 billion nerves in their brain, each nerve keen to work, but can be put to sleep by drugs such as cocaine.

We explored the work of the brain with pictures, sounds, words, numbers and memory.
Pictures..our brain can be tricked by illusions such as seeing a vase in a picture, but then refocussing on two profiles either side of the vase. There was a scene where our brain thought people were walking through a ladder, but the ladder was really cut and separated.

Sounds..We were challenged to identify sounds such as a piano and starting a car. We were shown how to make sounds for movies by using eg coconuts (horses feet), cellophane (fire), rice in a bowl for hail.

Words..Our brain is so clever that even when a message had jumbled words we were able to read the words as they should have been eg Dneae Htuton...= Deane Hutton

Numbers..What would you prefer? To work each day for 30 days, being paid $1,000 a day; or paid $1.00 the first day then doubling each day. Try this on a calculator and see which pays the most at the end of 30 days.

Memory..How many items can your memory recall if shown 12 items. Most people can remember around 6 or 7. However you might remember more if the items are classified into groups. Silly words or poems can also help us remember things more easily. eg My very elegant mouse just sits under new potatoes helps us to remember the order of the planets.