Backyard Brains: Bringing Neurophysiology Into Secondary Schools

描述（由申请人提供）：对专业神经科学家和普通大众来说，理解大脑仍然是一个巨大的挑战。神经系统是极其复杂的，这就是为什么神经疾病是众所周知的普遍和难以治疗。有两种主要方法可以解决这个问题。一种方法是资助知名科学家研究他们的特定研究领域。另一种方法是投资未来工程师、科学家和医生的能力，提供教育科学设备和引人注目的实验，用简单的模式生物教授神经科学原理。后一种方法取得进展的一个关键障碍是能否获得负担得起的工具和教案。为了满足这一需求，我们在第一阶段开发了1)“SpikerBox”：一种易于使用，价格低廉（< 100美元），便携式的生物放大器，可以检测和记录蟋蟀和蟑螂等无脊椎动物的spike活动（动作电位）；2)“RoboRoach”：一种用于研究昆虫行为的无线神经刺激器。我们已经设计了一些简单的实验，使用这些设备，并开始在测试高中的测试地点部署它们。在第二阶段，我们现在的目标是：加强学习材料和软件，使任何没有经验的高中生物老师都能在课堂上教授神经生理学实验。商业化和部署下一代RoboRoach和SpikerBox，为高中教室的实验提供更大的通用性。商业化和部署我们的“光遗传学设备”，由于神经科学是一个涵盖生物学、医学、数学和工程学的多学科领域，我们的“SpikerBox”、“RoboRoach”和“optogenetic”套件及其相关的学习材料可能会提高stem相关学科的表现，并激励下一代科学家和工程师。！

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Understanding the brain remains a great challenge both to professional neuroscientists and the general public alike. The nervous system is extremely complex, which is why neural diseases are notoriously widespread and difficult to treat. There are two main ways to solve this problem. One approach is to fund established scientists to research their particular field of study. An alternative way is to invest in the capabilities of future engineers, scientists, and physicians by providing educational science equipment and compelling experiments that teach principles of neuroscience using simple model organisms. A critical barrier to progress with this latter approach has been access to affordable tools and lesson plans. To address this need, we have developed in our Phase I the 1) "SpikerBox": a bio-amplifier that is easy-to-use, inexpensive (<$100), portable, and can detect and record the spiking activity (action potentials) of invertebrates such as crickets and cockroaches; and the 2) "RoboRoach": a wireless neural stimulator for investigating insect behavior. We have designed easy experiments using these pieces of equipment and have begun deploying them in beta high school test sites. In Phase II, we now aim to: 1. Enhance the learning materials and software to the degree that allows any high school biology teacher with little experience to teach neurophysiology experiments in the classroom 2. Commercialize and deploy the next generation RoboRoach and SpikerBox to allow for a greater versatility in experiments for high school classrooms 3. Commercialize and deploy our "OptoGenetics Rig," which is a fully portably miniature electrophysiology apparatus enabling optogenetic experiments in fruit flies in high school classrooms As neuroscience is a multi-disciplinary field encompassing biology, medicine, mathematics, and engineering, our "SpikerBox", "RoboRoach", and "Optogenetic" kits with their associated learning materials may have the effect of improving performance in STEM-related disciplines and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. !