UNSW Brain Sciences has hosted the NSW finals of Australia's first Brain Bee Challenge.

Twenty-eight short-listed Year 11 students from around the state took part in the competition, which tested their knowledge of the nervous system - and their nerves!

They were challenged on questions such as: "What is the most common form of dementia?" (See answer below)

"The team competition was great fun, but in the end it was the individual competition, in which eight students competed, that was the most intense," said Professor Vaughan Macefield, of the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute (POWMRI), which is part of UNSW Brain Sciences.

"The whole idea is to encourage kids to look into neuroscience as a possible career option," said Professor Macefield. "It's a fun, creative field where you can make a really big difference to so many people's lives."

The students were also treated to interactive tours of three neuroscience laboratories and heard neuroscientists talk about their areas of interest. The NSW individual finalist will go on to compete in the national competition in July.

About UNSW Brain Sciences: The Consortium involves researchers from the Faculties of Science and Medicine, POWMRI, the Black Dog Institute and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

Answer: Alzheimer's disease.

Media contact: Susi Hamilton, UNSW Media unit, tel. 9385 1583 or 0422 934 024