There will be several kinds of tests at the British Neuroscience Olympiad, depending on whether it is a national or regional competition. Possible exams include:
- Written exam of multiple-choice questions
- Human neuroanatomy & neutohistology exam
- Patient diagnosis test
- Live Q&A session requiring one word or one phrase answers
Recommended study resources for these tests are as follows. All the questions of the regional competition will be drawn from Neuroscience: Science of the Brain (chapters 16 Artificial Brains and Neural Networks and 18 Neuroethics are not tested) and Brain Facts book. For the national competition, the questions will come from Essential Neuroscience by Siegel.
Written MCQ Challenge
Students will be required to select one or more correct answers from 5 options or give a written answer to an open question. This may require the student to write a few short sentences or to label a diagram.
Live Q&A
This section of the competition will require students to individually answer questions posed to them. The student should give a one- to three-word answer or a short phrase.
Each student will have up to 30 seconds to respond to a question. No more than one answer may be given to a question. This challenge will be carried out on white boards.
Brain Facts present core neuroscience concepts in an understandable and interactive way.
A glossary of Key Brain Science Terms or DANA foundation glossary are the lists of definitions for common terms used when describing and discussing the brain and nervous system.
Patient Diagnosis Challenge
This section of the competition will require students to be able to diagnose a neurodegenerative disease based upon the symptoms presented in a short video clip or during the interview with patient actors. Students should be familiar with the neurodegenerative diseases from the list below.
There will be 10 to 20 descriptions of patients with neurological disorders. Students will be required to diagnose the neurological disorders by reviewing the symptoms of patients. To study for this part, you might try the Medical Encyclopedia of Medline Plus which can be found at the National Library of Medicine website: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html
Possible Neurological Diseases
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Cerebral palsy
- Myasthenia gravis
- Korsakoff’s syndrome
- Autism or Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
- Macular degeneration
- Strabismus
- Nonfluent aphasias, such as Broca’s aphasia
- Fluent aphasia, such as Wernicke’s aphasia
- Pure word deafness
- Insomnia
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Periodic limb movements of sleep
- REM behavior disorder
- Narcolepsy
- Stress-related disorders
- Dementia
- Drug addiction
- Amblyopia
- Inherited retinoblastoma
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- Walker-Warburg syndrome
- Mental retardation
- Rett syndrome
- Kabuki syndrome
- Down syndrome
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Dyslexia
- Alcohol dependence (alcoholism)
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Panic Disorder and Phobias
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Tourette Syndrome
- Major depression
- Bipolar Disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness)
- Schizophrenia
- Brain tumors
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND)
- Neurological Trauma
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Pain
- Seizures and epilepsy
- Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- Stroke
- Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)
- Parietal neglect
- Spina bifida
- Anencephaly
- Amnesia
- Headache and Migraine
- Spinocerebellar ataxia
- Guillain Barré syndrome
- Hydrocephalus
Possible Diagnostic Tests
1) Intelligence test
2) Memory test
3) Blood test
4) DNA test
5) Lumbar puncture
6) Blood pressure measurement
7) Biopsy and neuropathology
8) Nerve conduction test
9) Reflex evaluation
10) Motor evaluation
11) Sensory evaluation
11) Electroencephalogram
12) Electromyogram
13) Cerebral blood flow study
14) CT scan
15) PET scan
16) functional MRI
17) MRI scan
Anatomy & Histology Challenge
This section of the competition will require the students to be able to identify the structures on models or images of the nervous system. The complete list of the structures is below.
Neurohistology section of the competition will require the student to be able to identify different types of neural tissue from a histological photo. There will be photos, models or microscope slides to identify the structures.
Neuroanatomy
- Amygdala (limbic system)
- Anterior cerebral artery
- Arachnoid mater
- Basal ganglia
- Basilar artery
- Brainstem
- Caudate nucleus
- Cerebellum
- Cerebral cortex
- Cerebral peduncle
- Choroid Plexus
- Circle of Willis (arterial system)
- Corpus callosum
- Cortex
- Dentate gyrus
- Dura mater
- Epidural space
- Epineurium
- Fourth ventricle
- Frontal lobe
- Globus pallidus (forms nucleus lentiformis with putamen)
- Hypothalamus
- Hippocampus (medial temporal lobe)
- Inferior colliculi
- Inferior temporal gyrus
- Insular cortex
- Lateral ventricles
- Locus coeruleus
- Medulla oblongata
- Middle cerebral artery
- Middle temporal gyrus
- Nucleus accumbens
- Occipital lobe
- Oculomotor (III) nerve
- Olfactory (I) nerve
- Olfactory bulb
- Olfactory tract
- Optic (II) nerve
- Optic chiasm
- Optic radiation
- Optic tract
- Parahippocampal gyrus
- Parietal lobe
- Pia mater
- Pineal body
- Pituitary gland (hypophysis)
- Pons
- Posterior cerebral artery
- Prefrontal cortex
- Premotor cortex
- Primary auditory cortex
- Primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus)
- Primary somatosensory cortex (postcentral gyrus)
- Primary visual cortex (V1)
- Putamen
- Raphe nucleus
- Spinal canal
- Spinal cord
- Subarachnoid space
- Subdural space
- Substantia nigra
- Subthalamic nucleus
- Superior colliculi
- Superior temporal gyrus
- Temporal lobe
- Thalamus
- Third ventricle
- Trigeminal (V) nerve
- Vagus (X) nerve
- Ventral tegmental area
- Ventricular system
- Vertebral artery
- White matter
Histology
- Anterior Horn
- Axons
- Basal cells of the Taste Bud
- Choroid
- Cochlea
- Cones
- Crista Ampullaris
- Cupula
- Dorsal Horn
- Dorsal root ganglion
- Endoneurium
- Epineurium
- Fungiform papilla
- Ganglion cells of the Retina
- Granule cell layer of the Cerebellum
- Grey matter
- Hair cells of the Organ of Corti
- Molecular layer of the Cerebellum
- Neuroepithelial cells of the Taste Bud
- Node of Ranvier
- Olfactory epithelium
- Organ of Corti
- Pacinian Corpuscle
- Perineurium
- Peripheral nerve
- Photoreceptor cells
- Purkinje cell of the Cerebellum
- Pyramidal neurons of the Hippocampus
- Retina
- Rods
- Schwann cells
- Spinal canal
- Taste Buds
- White matter
The neuroanatomy & neurohistology section will consist of approximately 20 stations where brains, brain slices, or pictures of brains will be presented. The brains will have pins stuck in a particular part of the anatomy, and there will be questions at each station that ask for the name of the structure and/or the function of that structure indicated by the pin. Students will have approximately 1 minute at each station to write down their answers. To prepare for this part of the competition, look for a human brain atlas and a textbook covering basic neuroanatomy.
Here are a few web sites that might be useful as you study neuroanatomy:
http://www9.biostr.washington.edu/da.html
http://www.med.wayne.edu/diagRadiology/Anatomy_Modules/brain/brain.html
http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/NEURANAT/NEURANCA.html
http://www.getbodysmart.com/ap/nervoussystem/cns/brain/menu/menu.html
http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dnalc.threedbrain&hl=en_GB
Sylvius software from Sinauer (http://www.sinauer.com/sylvius4/) (costs about $55)
3D map by Brain Facts (http://www.brainfacts.org/3D-Brain#intro=false&focus=Brain)
Useful Neuroscience Resources
🧠 The Brain Domain
An online hub created by and for students, the Brain Domain encourages aspiring neuroscientists to develop their science communication skills. It’s also a great place for curious minds with no neuroscience background to learn in an accessible, engaging way.
🎓 Crash Course – Neuroscience Videos
Crash Course offers a massive library of free, high-quality educational videos on a wide range of subjects. Several series touch on neuroscience topics — from brain structure to mental health. We’ve curated a playlist of the most relevant and easy-to-follow neuroscience episodes.
⏱️ 2-Minute Neuroscience
Short on time? These bite-sized explainer videos, crafted by a neuroscientist, break down complex neuroscience concepts into digestible, two-minute segments. Topics range from the basics, like how neurons work, to more advanced subjects like synaptic plasticity.
📘 Fundamentals of Neuroscience (HarvardX)
Offered through Harvard’s online platform, this free course gives a broad introduction to neuroscience. It covers everything from ion channels and neural signaling to brain networks and higher-level brain functions. Ideal for students looking to build a solid foundation.
🎤 TED Talks – Neuroscience Collection
Explore neuroscience through powerful, short talks from some of the world’s leading thinkers. This regularly updated collection includes insights into brain science, mental health, consciousness, and more.
📰 Cerebrum Interviews
Hosted by Cerebrum magazine’s editor Bill Glovin, these monthly interviews feature conversations with leading neuroscientists about their work, their personal journeys, and the real-world impact of their research.
📚 NNCI (National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative)
This initiative brings together educators and neuroscientists to build resources that help psychiatry professionals understand and apply neuroscience in clinical settings. Great for anyone interested in how neuroscience links to mental health care.
RULES
1) What is theBritish Neuroscience Olympiad neuroscience competition?
The British Neuroscience Olympiad is a neuroscience olympiad aimed at inspiring school students to learn about the brain and pursue a career in STEM. The Regional Round is open to all secondary school students in the UK and worldwide. The National Round is open to UK citizens and all international students from the Top 50 who can attend the live event in London. We highly encourage students from all over the world to compete. The British Brain Bee has been running in the UK since 2016.
2) Who can participate?
Any school student within the UK and worldwide may participate in the regional round of the competition (first round). There are no age restrictions! The Top 50 students from the UK and worldwide from the Regional round will be invited to the National round (second round). International students are allowed to participate in the National British Brain Bee championship (second round) if they can travel to attend the live event in London. There will be no online second round available.
3) What are the rounds of the competition?
The competition is comprised of two rounds: Regional and National British Neuroscience Olympiad. The Regional competition is an online round. The National competition is usually hosted at a renowned university in person in London, UK.
4) How do I register?
The registration form can be found in the menu above. Students can register independently. No teacher support is needed for the registration. Homeschooled students can register, and there are no school prerequisites for the registration. Students can register themselves independently. There is no limit to the number of participants from each school. You can participate in the Regional and National Brain Bee as many times as you want. There are no age or nationality restrictions!
5) Why should I particpate?
By participating in the British Neuroscience Olympiad, secondary school students can learn about the brain and its vital functions in our lives. They gain an appreciation for neuroscience that might one day lead them to become neurologists or neuroscientists to treat and conquer diseases covered in the British Neuroscience Olympiad. Participation could also be included on job and university applications (e.g., UCAS), and each participant will receive a certificate for their efforts.
6) What can I win?
Participants will compete for textbook prizes and Amazon gift cards of £300, £200, and £100.
7) Will I receive a certificate?
All participants receive a certificate of participation, which will look great on your CV and UCAS application!
8) What are the prizes?
In the regional round, UK and worldwide participants will compete for 3 x $100 Amazon Gift Cards. The winners will be selected randomly. The Top 50 participants will be invited to the second round, which is held live annually in London. In the Nationals, students will compete for neuroscience textbooks and monetary prizes of £300, £200, and £100.
National British Brain Bee Winners
2024 National Winner Tomos Llyr Hunt,
2023 National Winner Kornelia Bartoszewicz
2022 National Winner Maja Olma, Langley School
2020 National Winner Timothy Lee, South Wilts Grammar School
2019 National Winner Caius Gibeily George Heriot’s School
2018 National Winner Emmanuela Obaro, North Birmingham Academy
2017 National Winner Roshna Roy, Tiffin Girls’ School
BRITISH NEUROSCIENCE OLYMPIAD 