Brain Day: Psychology students take the (grey) matter into their own hands

‘The beauty of neuroplasticity is also its downfall’. That was the takeaway message from Dr Guy Sutton’s lecture ‘Understanding Drugs: Fact or Fiction?’ which was presented to psychology students at Berkhamsted Sixth.

Every year, Dr Sutton presents Brain Day as part of his organisation, Medical Biology Interactive, which works with police, legal and educational services to provide engaging teaching. The day comprises of a series of university-style lectures, intended to take A Level students beyond the syllabus to consider how psychology interacts with the present moment. Dr Sutton’s biology background ties in with Year 13’s current study of biopsychology, but his lectures cover a range of interdisciplinary subjects from sociology to criminology and law.

Dr Sutton’s ‘Understanding Drugs’ lecture was a far cry from a typical ‘Just Say No’ approach. Instead, he demonstrated the effects of drugs on the brain: how different drugs target different neurotransmitters and can cause permanent damage to the brain, particularly in adolescence when it is most malleable. He also debunked common misconceptions around so-called ‘mild drugs’, addressing ketamine, cannabis and even vaping. ‘A lot of students have preconceptions about how drugs work and what’s good and what’s bad about drugs’, Dr Sutton says, ‘but it’s important to contextualise and make students realise that it’s not as clear cut as they may think’.

True to his organisation’s name, however, Dr Sutton did not let the students leave with only a conceptual understanding of the brain’s susceptibility to alteration. Instead, students were treated to a live dissection of a sheep’s brain! Surprisingly, despite its small size, the sheep’s brain bore remarkable similarities to a human brain, allowing students to interact with their most complex organ. Donning blue gloves and brave faces, nearly all students took a turn holding the sheep’s brain. One bold student even assisted with the dissection, catching one half of the brain as Dr Sutton split it in two. Presented with a cross-section, students were clearly able to see the grey and white matter which is also present in their own brains – the very place in which drug alteration can occur.

After thoroughly cleaning their hands, the students returned for a final lecture, this time on crime and the brain. Dr Sutton took them through a fascinating exploration of how mental disorders and early life experiences can play a part in criminal trials. Presenting the students with real life examples of divisive cases, Dr Sutton demonstrated the difficult legal and ethical issues surrounding psychology. These ambiguous cases certainly encouraged the kind of high-level thinking expected at university; students can apply what they learned from Dr Sutton when writing their UCAS statements and implement this knowledge in their wider studies.

Overall, this year’s Brain Day was a compelling introduction to the ways in which psychology can be applied in real life. As one student said, ‘obviously we’ve learned about and seen pictures of the brain, but it’s different when you’re actually holding it’! The students left with an enriched understanding of the brain’s complexities, and all the problems and challenges that this can lead to.

We once again extend our gratitude to Dr Sutton for another excellent day of learning!

If you are interested in learning more about the opportunities that Berkhamsted Sixth has to offer, please come along to our upcoming Open Event – booking is essential.