Learning about psychology from inside the pink folds of the brain
In a new video series for the Corpus Kids Academy, researchers Marieke Bos and Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam explain how the adolescent brain develops and how anxiety works. 'We wanted to present the information simply, while still preserving the complexity.'
What better place for a lesson about the brain than from inside a giant skull? When neuroscientist Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam and developmental psychologist Marieke Bos were approached by Corpus to contribute to an educational video series for children, they did not have to think twice. Together with presenters Rebecca and Ivo from the creative agency PodWorkz, they answer pressing questions about the brain. 'We felt it was important to show that the human body is more than flesh, and to pay attention to psychological processes as well,' says Marieke Bos.
Anxiety and the adolescent brain
In the video What happens in your brain during puberty?, Marieke debunks persistent brain myths, such as the idea that you can see the difference between a boy’s and a girl’s brain from the outside. She also explains why emotions are often experienced much more intensely during adolescence. In the video Why do you sometimes feel scared?, Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam describes how anxiety works in the brain, and why one person may be terrified of spiders while another will happily pick one up without hesitation.
Becoming aware of your body
The video series follows on from the Corpus Kids Academy events, where children and their parents learn all about the human body in the central hall of Corpus. In 2023, Janna Marie and Marieke contributed to the afternoon session Smart brain tricks to combat stress. 'We want people to become more aware of how their bodies function. The more aware you are, the more carefully you tend to treat it,' says Jannes Aalders, director of Corpus. 'We are keen to play our part in prevention. Our ‘Healthy living’ pillar also includes ‘mental resilience’, and the videos with Janna Marie and Marieke fit in perfectly with that,' adds Sanne Overschie, project manager for Education at Corpus.
Inspiring young scientists
Janna Marie and Marieke developed the scripts together with Ivo and Rebecca. 'They produced the first draft, which we then fact-checked,' Janna Marie explains. 'What matters to us is that, although the information is simplified, the complexity remains.' With the videos, the researchers hope that young viewers will feel a sense of wonder and become curious about how the brain works. They also hope to plant a seed that may inspire them to take an interest in science themselves one day. 'Professors are often portrayed as a sort of Einstein figure,' says Marieke Bos. 'By taking part in videos like this, children encounter a diverse group of scientists.'
Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam’s work is partly made possible by a grant from the National Science Agenda / NeurolabNL (small projects for NWA routes 21/22, NWA.1418.22.025).