Annual McMaster University Brain Bee

Sponsored by the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour

Students can start studying immediately using the official Brain Facts primer (2005 edition) on the brain and nervous system, which you can download for free (all questions/answers for the McMaster Brain Bee will come from this book):
The Brain Facts book.

One of our previous year's schedule will give you an idea for what the afternoon of the competition was like: 2008 schedule.
We will provide a link to the 2010 schedule as soon as it is ready. There may be a few written answer questions, perhaps some multiple choice questions, and there will be oral question/answers.

Here are some examples of questions you might see:

1. Approximately how many neurons does the brain contain?
Answer: 100 billion

2. Name the device that measures brain waves. 
Answer: Electroencephalograph

3. Stargazer mice are experimental models for which type of epilepsy? 
Answer: Petit mal epilepsy

4. Prozac relieves symptoms of depression by affecting which neurotransmitter? 
Answer: Serotonin

5. The Greek word for the branches of a tree give us the name of what part of a neuron? 
Answer: Dendrites

6. Name the surgical procedure that destroys part of the basal ganglia and helps Parkinson's patients. 
Answer: Pallidotomy

7. The biologic clock is located in what part of the brain? 
Answer: Hypothalamus

8. Name a brain disorder named after a famous baseball player. 
Answer: Lou Gehrig's disease

9. What is the mot common type of inherited mental retardation? 
Answer: Fragile X Syndrome

10. Name the peptide that accumulates in the senile plaques of brains of Alzheimer's patients? 
Answer: Beta-Amyloid

11. What chromosome is altered to cause Huntington's disease? 
Answer: Four

12. What is the leading preventable cause of developmental delay? 
Answer: Fetal Alchol Spectrum Disorders

13. The abbreviation PET stands for what brain imagine technique? 
Answer: Positron Emission Tomography

14. What kind of molecules are netrins and semaphorins? 
Answer: Guidance molecules

15. Name a cognitive disorder associated with chronic alcoholism. 
Answer: Korsakoff's Syndrome