Brain Awareness Week 2012

Students drop eggs wrapped in plastic bags and protective padding to demonstrate the importance of wearing a helmet at the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center's booth. The activity was one of several during the National Museum of Health and Medicine's 13th annual Brain Awareness Week. Credit: NMHM

Representatives from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences demonstrate how the nose plays a key role in our sense of taste. The activity was one of several during the National Museum of Health and Medicine's 13th annual Brain Awareness Week. Credit: NMHM

Two students put their "brains" together during the National Museum of Health and Medicine's 13th annual Brain Awareness Week. Credit: NMHM

Mark Burke of Howard University's Department of Physiology and Biophysics talks to students from the Jewish Primary Day School about how neurons work to deliver messages to the brain. The activity was one of several during the National Museum of Health and Medicine's 13th annual Brain Awareness Week. Credit: NMHM

Students from the Jewish Primary Day School hold brain specimens at Howard University's Department of Anatomy's booth during the National Museum of Health and Medicine's 13th annual Brain Awareness Week. Credit: NMHM

Students from the Joy of Learning Academy hold brain specimens at Howard University's Department of Anatomy's booth during the National Museum of Health and Medicine's 13th annual Brain Awareness Week. Credit: NMHM

Students from Christ Episcopal School learn about how the eye transmits visual information to the brain during the National Museum of Health and Medicine's 13th annual Brain Awareness Week. Credit: NMHM

Students from Blessed Sacrament School take turns holding a real brain specimen during the National Museum of Health and Medicine's 13th annual Brain Awareness Week. Credit: NMHM