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Having a Brain Blast at Sevier Park!

(EBRL’s table setup for Brain Blast 2026)

Looking to learn more about brains and neuroscience in a kid-friendly environment? Well, we’re happy to teach you! Every March, Vanderbilt Brain Institute neuroscientists gather together to teach adults and kids alike all about neuroscience and their research in honor of Brain Awareness Month. Dozens of different labs and researchers all gather together for an event we call Brain Blast each March. The event is geared toward families and kids, aiming to teach people more about their very own brains! Brain Blast 2026 was held on Saturday, March 21st at Sevier Park in Nashville. Lab members had a load of fun teaching our visitors throughout the afternoon about the science that we do here in the lab, as well as played games, did tongue twisters, and gave away tons of free items! We were even visited by some record breakers. (If you went by our table, you know what we’re talking about.) 

(Labs setting up for Brain Blast 2026, hosted in the community center at Sevier Park)

Brain Blast is always a grand opportunity to learn more about neuroscience in a way that’s easy to understand. (It’s also a great way to get some free swag!) Spend a Saturday afternoon hanging out with neuroscientists, see real brains, ask all those burning brain questions you have, and even meet some creepy critters!

(You could find out what this giant cockroach on a treadmill has to do with neuroscience!)

(You could even get a temporary tattoo of a neuron painted live on your arm!)

(EBRL members from left to right: Micah D’Archangel, Kellam Schmudde, Dr. Amanda Martinez-Lincoln, Natalie Huerta, and Dr. Tin Nguyen)

EBRL is proud to participate in Brain Blast each year. It’s an event that’s just as fun for us as it is for the visitors we get throughout the day. If you happened to miss us this year, don’t worry! Brain Blast is usually hosted in late March every year, so we’ll be sure to see you next year! If you’d like to find out more about Brain Blast, please check out the VBI website here. Until next time!

EBRL at Brain Blast 2025

We had a lot of fun meeting with future scientists and students at the Vanderbilt Brain Institute’s annual Brain Blast event. Every year at the Nashville Public Library, the VBI puts on a free event for students of all ages to come and learn about real brain science from scientists in the field. This year our lab participated once again and taught people about reading in the brain. We got to meet so many people and get to teach them about how different parts of the brain all work together during reading. If you stopped by our booth, you might have got a free bookmark, got to play some games with us, or have even got a little book buddy for you to read to! If you’re interested in learning more about Brain Blast and when it’ll be next year, check out the Vanderbilt Brain Institute’s website here! https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/brain-institute/brain-blast/
We might even see you there next year.

EBRL at Brain Blast 2024

It goes without saying, but EBRL had a blast at Brain Blast this year! Every year the Vanderbilt Brain institute organizes a free event at the Nashville Public Library for children and parents to learn about brains and the science behind studying them! This year we taught people about the reading brain, neuroimaging, giving out bookmarks, the importance of reading, and even what real brains look like! We had a wonderful time meeting you all and we can’t wait to see you again next year!

Brain Blast happens every year in March so we hope to see you next time!

If you’d like to learn more about the Vanderbilt Brain Institute and Brain Blast, click here!

Enjoy some photos from this year’s brain blast: