World-class brain research happens right here on the CSHL campus. Scientists have made tremendous advances in understanding the and other neurological disorders. Other research teams are working to understand memory and cognition, exploring how our brain processes sensory information. Still other scientists are working to map all of the with in the brain.
颁厂贬尝鈥檚 works to translate the science behind these amazing discoveries for the benefit of the broader public. In 2009 we produced the website in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust and funded by the Dana Foundation. One of our most successful tools was originally produced for G2C Online: the 3D Brain app is an interactive, three-dimensional model of the human brain. With more than 2.5 million downloads, it was created to allow students to explore 29 individual structures in the brain. Each structure also includes supporting educational materials: information on disorders, case studies, and even links to current research.
Sound like a great tool for students and educators? That鈥檚 exactly what we had in mind, and indeed, it is how the 3D Brain is most often used. But there鈥檚 another active group of users that we didn鈥檛 anticipate: medical professionals and patients.
Doctor-patient communication has historically faced significant challenges. Just think of the last time you visited a doctor. When chatting about your condition and possible treatments, it鈥檚 likely your doctor explained everything verbally. But, most people promptly forget up to 80 percent of the information they are given in such exchanges. Sometimes doctors use a model like to show patients some part of their anatomy. It may be helpful in the moment, but once a patient leaves the office, they must rely on memory.
No wonder, then, that the 3D Brain has taken off in medical communities, and was even featured in a recent article about how doctors can use apps to make patient education more effective. By enabling patients to visualize where different structures are in the brain the app gives patients a sense of 鈥渙wnership鈥濃�攁 spatial awareness of where certain structures are inside their own head. This and other mobile apps present an opportunity for doctors to connect with patients both during and after consultations. Because the app was initially designed with students in mind, it is written at a level that isn鈥檛 highly technical.
The 3D Brain is available on Apple, Android, and Windows platforms, and has been downloaded by medical professionals, patients, educators, and students. Reviews on app stores even indicate that parents of children with neurological conditions have used the app to explain to a new caregiver what鈥檚 going on with their child鈥檚 brain. The need for education extends beyond the classroom, and the 3D Brain and similar apps are proving to be an asset wherever there鈥檚 a need for educational resources.
Download your very own 3D Brain on , , or .