Curious to find out how the brain works, senior high school students from the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand of Rajah Soliman Science and Technology High School in Binondo, Manila, together with a few pupils from Pedro Guevarra Elementary School joined NeuroLakbay, an interactive learning activity led by Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro of the Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, UP Manila (www.neurolab.com.ph).

Dr. Cena-Navarro is the program leader and principal investigator of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) funded project entitled, “Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression (NATAD) using Animal Models.”

The project aims to develop new strategies for understanding and managing mental health conditions such as addiction and depression.

NeuroLakbay featured hands-on activities that helped students explore how the brain functions and how it influences the way people think, feel, and act. The journey began with the Brain Anatomy and Microscopy session, where students examined a mouse brain and observed it under the microscope.

Through this activity, they learned about the brain’s intricate structure and compared a healthy mouse brain to one exposed to addictive substances such as toluene, gaining insights into how harmful chemicals can affect brain function.

After exploring the brain’s structure, the students moved on to the Electromyography (EMG) demonstration, which showed how the brain communicates with muscles. With sensors attached to their arms, they watched real-time electrical signals appear on screens as they moved their hands. The experience revealed the hidden conversations between the mind and body, helping students understand how every motion begins with a signal from the brain.

The learning continued with the Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrations, where students observed how electrical impulses flow through the brain and heart. The EEG displayed brain waves, while the ECG traced heart rhythms, showing how these organs respond to activity and emotion. As the screens flashed with patterns and pulses, students understood how this equipment measures what goes on inside their minds. 

To conclude the activity, students visited the Optical Illusion station, where they experienced firsthand how the brain can sometimes trick us. Through visual puzzles and perception tests, they learned that what we see is shaped by how our brain interprets information. Laughter filled the room as students shared their discoveries, realizing how perception can differ from reality.

For Dr. Cena-Navarro (picture above), reaching out to students is a step toward building interest in a field that still needs more experts in the Philippines. “Our country needs more neuroscientists. Through NeuroLakbay, we hope to inspire students to see that studying the brain can help people and create lasting contributions to mental health.” She encouraged students to view neuroscience as a field where they can contribute to developing evidence-based approaches to understanding brain function and behavior.

Dr. Gregory J. Quirk (picture above), a neuroscientist and co-investigator of the NATAD Project, expressed his gratitude to the DOST and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development for supporting projects that advance brain and mental health research in the country. He emphasized that such support enables researchers like them to better understand mental health conditions and develop local, science-based solutions.