NIH Record - National Institutes of Health

NIDA Hosts Brain Derby During Brain Awareness Week

Volkow and model brain
NIDA director Dr. Nora Volkow and model brain and model brain

The National Institute on Drug Abuse took part in the 12th annual Brain Awareness Week by hosting “NIDA Brain Derby,” on Mar. 19 at the National Museum of Health and Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The interactive quiz game tested students’ knowledge about the brain, neuroscience and the neurobiology of drug use. Students learned basic brain anatomy and function, as well as how different drugs can affect the brain and alter its normal activity.

Brain Awareness Week is a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research.

Additionally, in correlation with Brain Awareness Week, NIDA launched a series of Brain Reward Circuit videos. The new animated videos detail how the brain responds to the use of different drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.

The NIH Record

The NIH Record, founded in 1949, is the biweekly newsletter for employees of the National Institutes of Health.

Published 25 times each year, it comes out on payday Fridays.

Assistant Editor: Eric Bock
Eric.Bock@nih.gov (link sends e-mail)

Staff Writer: Amber Snyder
Amber.Snyder@nih.gov (link sends e-mail)