An exhibit on the brain museum in National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru.
| Photo Credit: File photograph
To enhance consciousness about psychological well being and neurosciences in addition to decode functioning of the brain, NIMHANS is engaged on setting up a brain and mind museum in its platinum jubilee yr. The current Heritage Museum and the proposed ‘Human Brain Museum’ will likely be built-in into a brand new facility in Bengaluru, making it “the first, largest and most innovative ‘Museum of the Brain and Mind in the world”.
The museum proposes to mixture advances in info and communication know-how, graphics and animation, incorporate digital actuality, and skilled experience in numerous fields of psychological well being and neuroscience. The thought is to present an experiential and interactive expertise for guests with complete, genuine info on the functioning of the brain and the mind, in well being and illness.
NIMHANS Director Pratima Murthy informed The Hindu, “There are plans to have a holographic zone, and an incubation centre for scientists to discuss and experiment with innovative ideas, particularly for start-ups, idea validation, mentorship and guidance, networking, funding assistance, research and marketing. We are also working on making the museum available online. Another idea being explored is of a travelling exhibition.”
How trauma, use of drugs and way of life can alter functioning of brain
Cutting-edge know-how for show proposed to be used embrace contact tables, clear shows, interactive 2D contact screens, augmented actuality experiences, digital actuality headsets, digital actuality caves and haptic units to permit guests to really feel 3D objects in digital actuality house.
The institute is in search of philanthropic and CSR assist for this initiative, Dr. Murthy stated.
Prabha S. Chandra, Dean of Behavioural Sciences at NIMHANS, stated, “High-end technological interfaces will represent an educative experience by itself, and will reflect the progress in technology made in recent times. The museum will help visitors understand how the brain functions in health, how motor and sensory functions are coordinated, how consciousness is maintained, how thoughts, actions and feelings are formed, and how trauma, use of substances, and lifestyle can alter functioning of the brain.”
Over 300 specimens of human brain on show in museum
The current brain financial institution is a human brain repository of tissue and fluids collected at autopsy, with knowledgeable consent of shut family. It has been established as a useful resource organisation to procure treasured human nervous tissue for neurobiological analysis in India.
Exhibits on the brain museum on the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bengaluru.
| Photo Credit:
File photograph
Anita Mahadevan, Professor and Head of Department of Neuropathology, who can be coordinator of the financial institution and museum, stated, “Over 300 specimens of the human brain are on display at the museum, and an equal number are stored in the bank. One half of the brain from neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorder cases are frozen at -86 degree Celsius while the other half is formalin fixed, which can be used for pathomorphological studies.
“Since its inception in 1974, the bank has archived human brain, brain biopsies, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from various neurological and psychiatric disorders for research. The mission is to make people N-literate (neuroscience literate). The number of brain donations are also on the rise over the years. Overall, we have collected over 50 donated brains from Bengaluru.
“Right now, the brain is a structure at the bank and museum. Its functioning is something that we cannot show on a specimen. We will use digital technology to show how the brain works, the connectivity, how nerve impulses travel. We want to expand from anatomy to try and show function.”
