March 3, 2025

Brain Awareness Week is a global campaign dedicated to raising public awareness about the importance of brain health and the progress of neuroscience research. It’s a time to celebrate the incredible complexity of the brain and to educate people about how lifestyle choices, mental health care, and scientific advancements all contribute to our well-being. Brain Awareness Week helps break down stigmas surrounding neurological disorders and mental illness, while inspiring future generations of researchers and healthcare professionals.

Research suggests the human brain consists of about 86 billion neurons. Each neuron forms connections to other neurons, which could add up to 1 quadrillion (1,000 trillion) connections. Learn more here.

Brain information can travel up to an impressive 350 miles per hour. When a neuron is stimulated, it generates an electrical impulse that travels from cell to cell. Learn more here.

It’s a myth that you only use 10% of your brain. You actually use all of it, even when you are sleeping. Neurologists confirm that your brain is always active. Learn more here.

Join neuroscientist Dr. Kay Tye and brain engineer Dr. Kafui Dzirasa for an engaging conversation about how STEM can help us better understand the human brain and mental illness! Watch this episode. Click here for the FREE NGSS-aligned companion lesson. 

Why are teenagers more vulnerable to drug addiction? The answer lies in a critical stage of brain development, says pioneering research psychiatrist Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the NIH. Discover how adolescents can reduce their risk! Watch this video. Click here for the FREE NGSS-aligned lesson.

Join medical oncologist and drug discoverer Dr. Mika Sovak and neuroscientist Dr. Greg Gage to learn how breakthroughs in STEM save lives. Watch this episode. Click here for the FREE NGSS-aligned companion lessons. Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the lesson plan in PocketLab for free! 

Join neuroscience educator Emma Bleakman for a crash course in neuroplasticity! Empower your students to take ownership of their own learning by utilizing these neuroplasticity activities and downloadable resources in ANY K-12 classroom.

Unveil the complexity of your brain by exploring its connections to the body's systems. Dive deeper into the wonders of the brain here.

Explore how your brain processes information in real time! In this interactive activity, toggle neural circuits to see their impact on processing traffic signals and their effect on your driving abilities. Dive deeper into the brain here.

Discover how life experiences—like aging, mental challenges, and physical activity—shape and transform your nervous system. Explore more about the brain here.