​“When the brain’s potential is fully unleashed, there can be few if any limitations. Anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t up-to-date with the latest scientific findings on the brain…for the brain’s potential is the human potential." – Author James Morcan

Inspired by the possibilities for progress in neuroscience; young doctors, students and teachers unveiled a range of original thoughts and proposals at the Ignite event, part of the National Health Sciences Research Symposium, Mind and Brain conference.

The human brain controls all the body’s thoughts, feelings and actions. It determines what it means to be human and is the source of all our creative and innovative impulses. The central importance of the brain to the body means that the field of neuroscience – the study of the mind, brain and nervous system – holds enormous potential to improve the world around us.

With just five minutes each to stir the audience, the seven presenters explored a range of questions including whether insights about the adolescent brain can help us improve learning in classrooms? Does 3D printing have the potential to grow brain tissue? Can artificial intelligence-based machines help those caring for patients with mental illnesses?

One of the best presentations of the night was by Sarmad Soomar, a graduate of the School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM) who is currently completing his internship in nursing. His talk covered his interest in Laughter Yoga – the practice of sustained voluntary laughter in groups – and his experience of establishing a Virtual Laughter Club in Pakistan. Besides detailing the psychological and physiological benefits of practicing such group therapy, he outlined the barriers to introducing and sustaining alternative healthcare treatments.

Another well-received presentation was by third-year nursing student Maheen Meghani, who highlighted the importance of the environment in which mental health treatment is provided. She spoke of the need to create an atmosphere with regular social interaction, to introduce routines to help patients orient themselves to treatment, and to make adjustments to inpatient settings in order to raise the standard of psychiatric care.

Third-year student at SONAM Maira Nizamuddin was also appreciated for her talk exploring how using smartphone technology in community centres could improve the early diagnosis of illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease. She spoke of how developments in speech processing algorithms could detect changes in voice patterns that could facilitate more prompt treatment of the disease.

Speaking about the importance of the event, lead organiser Dr Asad Mian, Associate Professor at the Department of Emergency Medicine at AKU, said: “Many people in the medical profession suffer from tunnel vision that inhibits their critical thinking, creativity and innovation. If unchallenged, knowledge can turn into dogma and well-established procedures tend to harden into habit.”

“Ignite sessions enable young students and professionals to explore new avenues in the field. This helps keep minds open to creative and innovative approaches to problems in healthcare and medical education.”

Ignite is an initiative of AKU’s Critical Creative Innovative Thinking platform that works to help medical and non-medical personnel get in touch with their creative, innovative and humane sides through educational, training and research initiatives.