3D Brain

Have you ever wondered how the inside of your brain looks like? 3D Brain helps you discover how each brain region looks and functions.  The app consists of 29 interactive and vivid brain images that offer you information on associated functions and links to more in-depth research. Our 4 stars EAS Certification recommends it as an informational tool for a very specific subject that is very easy to use and offers reliable content.

3D Brain provides interactive brain structures that can be rotated and zoomed with the touch screen. The human brain is considered the most interesting and complex organ, that just like kids, grows and learns by interacting with the world. 3D Brain is an app produced by the Dolan DNA Learning Center to help learners understand the brain’s anatomy.

On installing the app you will be notified that the app will need to download a 14mb file in order to render the information. Some might argue that the size of the file is too big for what the app is, but we did not have any trouble downloading the file. We would recommend the download to be done once you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network.

The interface is simple. The start screen shows you a 3D image of the brain. There app has its limitations: the images can be rotated only on its horizontal axis, there is no zoom option and no interaction. It’s just an image and our concern is that the name of the app might be misleading. The app offers 3D images but does not rotate in 3D.

The main screen has 3 tabs:

-    3D View – where the images are displayed.

-    Labels - where you are indicated the different parts and names of the section   you selected.

-    Info section – probably the most useful one.

On the same screen we get a drop down menu from where you can select one of the 29 areas of the brain you want to examine.  Once an area is selected, its location is colourfully represented within the brain.  We think the ‘Labels’ tab serves little purpose, there is no interaction offered, just the names of the individual substructures of the currently selected structure.

Our favourite tab is the Info section. It offers solid information which is clearly organized. Each detailed structure is presented with an ‘Overview’ area, followed by case studies, associated functions, cognitive disorders, brain damage and research reviews. Under research reviews you will find a series of links for those interested to have a more in-depth study on the subject. Although the links take you to external websites, we can appreciate their educational and informative quality.

3D Brain is a great app for medical students, medical practitioners or for those keen on extending their research outside the class and find more information about the brain. We believe the app could have reached more by updating their visual design and permitting more interaction. Nevertheless, it is a useful tool and a reliable source of information and for that it is awarded with a 4 star EAS Certification.

You can download 3D Brain on your iOS or Android devices from the app stores. Download the 3D Brain app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.