A viral social media post has sparked fresh interest in the Human Brain Museum at NIMHANS, with hundreds of people now calling every week to visit the museum, according to Dr Anita Mahadevan, the museum’s coordinator. Previously, the museum would receive around 10,000 visitors annually, but this surge in interest marks a significant shift.

About the Museum
The Human Brain Museum is located on the ground floor of the Neurobiology Research Centre at NIMHANS on Hosur Road, Bengaluru. It is open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the complex world of the human brain.

  • Public Hours: The museum is open for two hours on Wednesdays and for four hours on Saturdays. It also accommodates school visits on Tuesdays and Fridays, according to Dr Anita.

A Legacy of Learning and Research
Established in 1974 by Dr S K Shankar, the museum was initially aimed at research and medical education. Today, it houses over 400 brain specimens, with around 200 currently on display. These specimens, preserved in formalin, are carefully placed on shelves and categorised by various diseases and injuries, such as glioma and central nervous system infections.

The museum’s exhibits serve as poignant reminders of the tragedies some of these brains have endured. For example, one specimen belonged to a three-month-old baby who suffered a fatal fall from its cot, while another tells the story of a 25-year-old woman who died of tuberculosis after months of illness.

Educating the Public
Dr Anita emphasises that the museum serves as a “temple of learning,” particularly for children. “Their textbooks come alive here,” she says, explaining that the primary goal is to raise awareness about brain health and safety. Through the museum’s displays, visitors can learn about the effects of brain injuries, the importance of seat belts, and the impact of conditions like hypertension.

Guided tours, typically lasting one to two hours, are led by NIMHANS doctors and scientific officers, who help demystify the workings of the brain for visitors.

Animal Brain Exhibits and Hands-On Learning
In addition to human brains, the museum also displays brains from various animals, including cows, parrots, monkeys, and even snakes. Visitors are also given the unique opportunity to touch and feel a real human brain, which offers a rare, hands-on educational experience. The museum also features exhibits of other organs, such as lungs, the heart, liver, and even a full human skeleton.

Expanding to a Larger Museum
Looking ahead, NIMHANS is preparing to open a larger museum called the Museum of Brain and Mind, which is set to launch on the same campus in 2025. “It will be much more interactive, incorporating augmented reality and dynamic models,” Dr Anita explains, adding that the new museum is part of the vision of NIMHANS director Dr Pratima Murthy. This upgraded facility aims to provide an even deeper understanding of how the brain functions.

A Call for More Brain Donations
One of the major challenges the museum faces is a lack of brain donors. In 2023, the Human Brain Bank at NIMHANS received less than 10 donations. Dr Anita points out that while many people pledge to donate organs for transplants, they often overlook brain donations, which are crucial for research.

“Healthy brain specimens are even more valuable for research than diseased ones because they serve as a control for comparison,” she explains. Researchers rely on age and gender-matched healthy brains to better understand abnormalities in diseased brains.