Negros Oriental State University Psychology and Biology students attended a one-day Brain Awareness Activity and Workshop facilitated by the Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory of the National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila (NIH-UPM), today, April 15, 2026, at the University Library Conference Hall.

As part of the implementation of the NeuroLakbay Program, Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro, Research Faculty of the Institute of Molecular Biology, Director of the NIH National Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity, and Program Leader of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-funded project, was joined by Dr. Grace Gregorio, Brain Ph, Dr. Gregorio Quirk, Neuroscientist, Ms. Sharriz Anne Cruz, Research Analyst, Mr. Russel Syjueco, Research Analyst, and Mr. Joannes Luke Asis, a graduate student. NeuroLakbay is an outreach program designed to inspire students and foster interest in brain function research across the Philippines.

This initiative of UP NIH aims to bring neuroscience closer to students and academic communities. Through this program, students gain a deeper understanding of core neuroscience concepts, explore possible research directions, and see how the field connects to medicine, mental health, behavior, education, and public health.

The different station areas during the workshop were as follows:
Microscopy: Neuroanatomy
Seeing Action Potentials
Muscle Activity and Stimulation
Heart Waves (ECG) and Brain Waves (EEG)
Throwing Tasks (Demonstration of Cerebellar Plasticity)
Sensory (Auditory and Visual) Illusions

Accompanying the student participants were Ms. Mary Dawn Valencia, Psychology Department Chairperson; Ms. Venus B. Kinamot, Biology Department Chairperson; and members of the faculty.