DoctorAnna Mitchell

Organised and ran the International Brain Bee South Island In-person Competition for Year 11 South Island high school students

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Organised and ran a neuroscience high school outreach event for Year 11 students at Lincoln High School, Canterbury

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Organised and ran a neuroscience high school outreach event for Year 9 students at Lincoln High School, Canterbury

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Animal research involving the brain has already led to significant enhancements in human health. Animals are used as models to gain insight into the human brain and nervous system. Nonetheless, the brain is much more complex than any other organ, as it controls the functions of the rest of the body and is responsible for perception, communication and memory, all that we call behaviour. Find out why animal models are crucial for brain research from behavioural neuroscientist Anna Mitchell.

This webinar was held as part of the BNA's 'Bring Your Own Brain' programme of events in April 2021. Join Dr Anna Mitchell, Dr Brook Perry, Dr Juan Carlos Mendez Nunez and Ms Rhyanne Heppenstall, from the University of Oxford, to hear about why they use rhesus monkeys to answer neuroscience research questions. This session shows you how monkeys are trained to complete computer-based touchscreen tasks, some methods used to assess monkeys' welfare, and gives an explanation of some of the latest findings into how brain areas adapt while learning and after injury. You can visit a 360 virtual tour of the animal laboratory here http://www.labanimaltour.org I organised this event with the BNA and trained and supported members of my lab group (postdocs and DPhil student) who wanted to join in.

I organised this science outreach communication event 'Behind the scenes at a primate lab' to be included in the festival and trained and supported two of my postdocs and my research assistant, who were keen to join in. This event continues to be included in the annual programme due to its internet and has been viewed 33,823 times This event highlighted why and how rhesus monkeys help answer some important research questions, including how we optimise learning. See how monkeys complete adapted computer-based tasks that assess learning in healthy humans and those who have experienced stroke. Researchers shared some of their latest findings on brain adaptation and learning after injury, with opportunities to ask your questions.

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