Ep 5. Bulging Brains

In this episode of Horrible Science, appropriately named "Bulging Brains," host Olivia Hanton delves into the world of neuroscience. As always, the show presents the topic in a fun and engaging way, with plenty of humor and exciting experiments to keep young viewers interested.

The episode begins with Olivia explaining that our brains are like a computer, but much more complex. She compares it to a city, with different regions responsible for different functions. To illustrate these regions, Olivia has set up a giant model brain with different parts labeled and color-coded.

Olivia starts off with a quiz for the viewers, asking them to identify the odd one out of a selection of animal brains. She then reveals that the unusual brain belongs to a bird, which is surprising given that birds are known for their intelligence.

Next, Olivia explains how the brain communicates with the rest of the body through the nervous system. To demonstrate this, she has a volunteer put on a special suit that simulates being electrocuted. The suit sends electric signals to the volunteer's muscles, causing them to twitch and jump. Olivia explains that this is similar to how our brain sends messages to our muscles.

Olivia then moves on to talking about memory. She explains how memories are stored in different parts of the brain and how they can be triggered by certain sensory stimuli, like a smell or a song. To demonstrate this, Olivia has brought in a variety of smells and plays a song to see if the viewers can remember what they're associated with.

The next section of the show is all about the teenage brain. Olivia explains that the teenage years are a time when the brain goes through some major changes, including the growth of new neural connections and the pruning of old ones. This can lead to some typical teenage behaviors, such as risk-taking and impulsivity.

To demonstrate this, Olivia has brought in a group of teenagers to take part in some tests that measure impulse control. They have to resist eating a marshmallow for a certain amount of time in order to win a prize, which proves to be more difficult than it sounds!

The final section of the show looks at the importance of sleep for our brains. Olivia explains that while we sleep, our brains are busy processing and consolidating memories and learning new skills. To demonstrate this, she has a volunteer try to complete a physical task while sleep-deprived and then again after a good night's sleep.

Overall, "Bulging Brains" is a fun and lively introduction to the world of neuroscience. The experiments and demonstrations are engaging and informative, and Olivia's enthusiasm is infectious. By the end of the episode, viewers should have a basic understanding of how the brain works and why it's so important to take care of it.