Michael Tannebaum

Dr. Justin Gass, of the Medical University of South Carolina, shows a human brain to Gregg Middle School sixth-grader Brittany Macha.

Michael Tannebaum

Gregg Middle School sixth-grader Jack Connell marvels at a human brain brought to the school as part of a presentation detailing the effects drugs have on the brain.

At a recent assembly, Gregg Middle School sixth-graders were taught that their brains control how they feel, think and act. Shortly thereafter, those feelings, thoughts and actions were on full display as Dr. Justin Gass, of the Medical University of South Carolina, informed the 100 or so students that he had with him a human brain.

Gass visited Gregg Middle as part of Red Ribbon Week to educate the school’s sixth-graders on the effects drugs have on the brain and body.

Gass, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, enlisted the help of 10 students to illustrate how the speed at which the brain reacts to a sensation depends on the location of that feeling.

The students formed a row and grabbed hands with the person next to them. The student at the end of the row squeezed the hand of the boy or girl next to him and that continued until the hand of the 10th person had been squeezed, which took about nine seconds. The students then performed the same exercise, but instead of grabbing the hand of the person next them, they grabbed the shoulder. This time it only took about four seconds to go from the first student to the last.?Among the other topics Gass discussed was how the brain has a reward system that is “activated” by food, water and warmth among other things.

“The brain says ‘that was good and because it was good, I want to do it again,’” Gass explained to the students.

He told the students that drugs hijack the brain’s reward system by rendering it immune to everything except drugs, which leads to drug addiction.

At the end of the presentation, Gass revealed to the students that he had a human brain that they could examine. As he donned latex gloves, students gathered for an up close and personal look.

Although some students were fascinated at the sight of the brain, others covered their eyes with their hands, electing instead to peak through their fingers. Nevertheless, the assembly left all of their brains with something to think about.

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com

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