The school won the team section and the individual section of this year's final, held at the Otago Museum yesterday.
Riccarton pupil Jawon Kim (15) excelled, beating 97 other year 11 pupils from 19 high schools from around the South Island tobecome the individual champion.
He was surprised to win and admitted he only did a few hours' study the day before.
"I don't think I'm intelligent. I'm just lucky."
He sees his future in the field of science and hoped in a few years he would be part of the health science programme at the University of Otago.
The pupils also met neuroscientists and toured the university's laboratories.
Ella Barclay (15), from Columba College, who was third in the individual competition, said browsing inside the brain labs was a highlight for her.
Her twin Holly was also in the competition and Ella said therivalry between them helped her reach a top-three placing.
Brain Bee committee chairman Stephen Bunn, of the University of Otago's department of anatomy and structural biology, said he was impressed at the overall standard of competitors.
Some of the pupils answered questions on topics tertiary students would tackle, he said.
The challenge tested their knowledge on neuroscience topics such as intelligence, memory, emotions, stress, sleep, addiction and strokes.
Jawon will head to Melbourne next year to compete at the Australia-New Zealand Brain Bee final. If successful he could earn a spot at the International Brain Bee later in 2013.
Christchurch schools scooped the teams competition, with Riccarton High School first, Rangi Ruru Girls' School second and Villa Maria College third.
