Final task

The Minister for Health wishes to launch a national campaign about the impacts of new technologies on the brain and how they could help prevent and/or cure Alzheimer’s Disease.

You belong to their Cabinet and your task is to make a summary on this subject for the Minister’s information.

As the Minister does not have so much time to read any paper, your summary should be in the form of a 5-minute video, inspired by a popular [1] scientific show (Bill Nye the Science Guy / Brainiac: Science Abuse / C’est pas sorcier / etc.).

Your video is to hand in on Google Classroom.

There will be some intermediate tasks to help you prepare your show.

 November 7^th

Introduction

• Brain anatomy
• Hemispherectomy and brain plasticity (use ear plugs)

Question: make a hypothesis on how Cameron was able to recover after her surgery, regarding her abilities.

 November 14^th

• https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alzheimers-disease/
• https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/alzheimers-disease

Question: explain what is AD and what it is due to.

 November 21^st

• 8 Ways Tech Has Completely Rewired Our Brains
• Brain Plasticity: How technology, environments, and language change our brains

Click to enlarge

• Unique visual stimulation may be new treatment for Alzheimer’s
• May smartphones help to maintain memory in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease?
• Video and Mobile Games and Neuroplasticity: What is the Connection?

Question: which parts of the brain are involved in using new techs?

 November 28^th

On the one hand, some websites allege to propose some ’best training apps’ to keep the brain active and develop its capacities. A quick search on the internet brings out, for example (you may search for other examples):

• https://www.educationalappstore.com/best-apps/5-brain-training-apps-to-test-your-mind
• https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/23/brain-training-apps-five-of-the-best
• https://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/09/health/brain-training-apps/index.html

On the other hand, many voices warn on the dangers of screen and techs overuse to brain health. For example (you may search for other examples):

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7366948/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNdTgzyLVeI
• https://hms.harvard.edu/news/screen-time-brain

Question: what about these apparently opposite visions?