My
name: Dr. Silvia Bunge
My big question about the brain: How do we reason about difficult problems?
My job in the lab: I oversee the many projects that our lab is working on. My favorite thing about working in the lab is that I get to work with a really great team!
Why I like studying the brain: We will never fully understand how a soft, mushy ball of cells produces thought or action but that won't stop us from trying.
My Favorite part of the brain: the Sylvian fissure, for what I hope is an obvious reason.
Fun facts about me: I am part Inca.
My name: KepaMy big question about the brain: How does the prefrontal cortex interact with other brain areas to control our memories ?
My job in the lab: I conduct studies to examine how memory develops from childhood to adulthood.
Why I like studying the brain: It’s an incredibly complex system and we still have a lot to learn.
My favorite part of the brain: The orbitofrontal cortex. It has many jobs yet it is one of the least understood regions of the human brain. It is involved in putting together information from our senses, making decisions and predictions, and controlling our reactions .
When I’m not at the lab I like to: cook, hike and go to concerts.
A fun fact about me: I'm from the Basque Country, a region in Spain. My nickname (Kepa) is the Basque translation of Peter. The Basque language (Euskera) appears to be the oldest language in Europe.
My name: LibbyMy big question about the brain: What types of changes in the developing brain allow for kids to become really good at different kinds of things like problem solving, language, and memory.
My job in the lab: I study pictures of brains to figure out how it develops as a person gets older. I am especially interested in using these pictures to figure out how kids get better at reasoning and solving difficult problems as they grow up. I've wanted to be a scientist ever since I was a little kid and now I am living that dream!
Why I like studying the brain: The brain is the most fascinating and complex thing in the whole world! It controls everything about who we are and what we do, and it is exciting to try to figure out how it works.
My favorite part of the brain: the cerebellum. This name means "little brain". The cerebellum is really neat because it is almost identical to that of other animals, yet in humans it plays a role in many functions that we think of as being things that only people can do (like talking and planning ahead).
When I’m not at the lab I like to: go hiking and camping and I love reading, and watching movies
A fun fact about me: I have a hole in my tongue...I bit through it when I was 8 years old and the scar is still there!
My name: OriMy big question about the brain: What happens if I poke it THERE?!?
My job in the lab: I help keep the entire lab organized, and am also working on three different studies about the brain.
Why I like studying the brain: The brain is something we will never know everything about, but the more we know about it, the more questions we can ask about it. I also like thinking about where the brain ends and the mind begins.
My favorite part of the brain: I'm pretty attached to the whole brain.
When I’m not at the lab I like to: reading, painting, riding my bike, playing with my dogs, coming up with fun building projects, cooking fabulous food, fixing things, and wondering why I don't have free time.
A fun fact about me: I have double-jointed thumbs.
My name: Allyson
My big question about the brain: How does the brain change when you practice thinking in new ways and solve tough problems?
My job in the lab: I'm a graduate student, which means that I do research, teach, and take classes. I like working in the lab because I get to try out all the games that kids play in our studies!
Why I like studying the brain: The brain controls everything we do and who we are, but nobody knows how! I think the more we know about how to change the brain in a positive way, the more we can help kids with diseases that make their brains develop differently.
My favorite part of the brain: the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is really cool because it controls so much of how we feel even though it's tiny- it's only half a percent of the whole brain. It tells you when you're hot, cold, hungry, thirsty, tired and even when you're stressed out.
When I am not at the lab I like to: swim, paint, read and watch movies with my friends.
A fun fact about me: My favorite book is the Phantom Tollbooth. I've read a lot of adult books but I still like books for kids better!
My name: AnettMy big question about the brain: How can we improve our ability to deal with our emotions?
My job in the lab: Design cool studies and find great results! I like working in the lab because I get to think about interesting questions that are difficult to answer.
Why I am interested in the brain: the brain is what determines how we are what we do!
My favorite part of the brain: prefrontal cortex, the area behind your temple. This part of the brain allows us to plan and think ahead so that we can make smarter decisions.
When I am not in the lab I like to: go running or hang out with my family and friends.
A fun fact about me: I speak a language that only 10 million people in the world understand! Do you know how many people live in the world?
My name: Anna
My big question about the brain: What parts of the brain help kids and adults control how they act and feel?
My job in the lab: I play games and do activities with the children that participate in my research project. I like working in the lab because I am surrounded by interesting people who love to learn and I get to work with awesome kids who like science.
Why I am interested in the brain: we all have one inside us but we rarely take notice of all the amazing things it
does for us.
My favorite part of the brain: the hypothalamus. It is really small but it helps with so many important functions including, eating (feeling hungry and being full), our bodies daily rhythms, body temperature, and many more!
When I’m not at the lab you can find me: cooking, reading, swimming, watching movies, and going to music shows.
A fun fact about me: My favorite food is lobster!
My name: JessicaMy job in the lab: I study children with Tourette’s Syndrome, and how medications affect brain and behavior. I like working at the lab because everyone is very friendly and excited about what they do.
Why I like studying the brain: the brain is really interesting to me because makes us who we are!
My favorite part of the brain: the left temporo-parietal junction (the left TPJ). When I did research that compared how children and adults read, regions around the left TPJ had very interesting differences over age.
When I’m not at the lab you can find me: reading, running, playing with my dog, crocheting, or video chatting with family.
A fun fact about me: I am having a baby at the end of the summer!
My name:
My name: Suzie My job at the lab: I work with kids on brain games to study how they influence changes in the brain and abilities. My favorite part about my job is that I get to play games with kids in the pursuit of science.
My favorite part of the brain: the thalamic reticular formation (try saying that five times fast.) It is involved with the transfer of information to higher areas of the brain (like the prefrontal cortex that we study!) from the body and shines a "spotlight" on what is important.
When I’m not at the lab: I am reading, playing video games, or watching foreign movies.
A fun fact about me: My favourite dictionary is the Oxford English Dictionary.
My name: Natalie
My job in the lab: I get in touch with and work with kids who participate in our studies. As a research assistant my job is generally to help all the researchers with their projects.
My favorite part of the brain: the hippocampus. This is where memories are made, and memories make up a large part of who we are.
When I am not at the lab: I am teaching and choreographing swing dancing.
A fun fact about me: I worked for a summer at Disneyland.