Backyard Brains: Bringing Neurophysiology Into Secondary Schools

项目摘要 破译大脑如何运作仍然是人类面临的巨大挑战之一，耐人寻味 科学工作者和公众是平等的。众所周知，神经系统的复杂性导致了 疾病仍然很普遍，而且很难治疗。研究大脑的工具通常很难使用，而且 仅对大型研究型大学的研究生和科学家开放。提供无障碍 高中神经科学研究工具和教育设备将促进神经科学 通过向未来的科学家、工程师和医生介绍神经系统功能原理进行创新 在他们职业生涯的早期阶段。将电生理学和其他神经科学技术应用于 从历史上看，由于缺乏负担得起的工具以及令人信服的和 无障碍学习材料。 为了满足这一需求，我们正在开发一门基于研究生水平神经科学的神经科学课程 可以在高中课堂上使用的研究工具。 1)“SpikerBox”：一系列易于使用、价格低廉(100美元)、便携、 检测并记录无脊椎动物神经系统的动作电位， 人体肌肉(EMG)，心脏的电信号(EKG)，以及心脏的电振荡 人脑(EEG)。 2)RoboRoach：一种研究昆虫行为的无线神经刺激器。 3)“光刺激器”：基于微型显微镜和电生理的全便携手机 在高中教室里进行果蝇光遗传学实验的仪器。 4)“SpikerShield”：一个人机界面工具包，允许学生连接他们身体的电子设备 信号(来自肌肉、心脏、眼睛和大脑)进入创造性的工程团队项目，如机器人 手爪、计算机鼠标、乐器、视频游戏界面和假肢模型。 5)一本全面的学生神经科学教材和教师手册，重点是基于问题的 神经科学教学单元，指导如何管理以问题为基础的课堂。 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， 将在这里开发的教育工具和材料将改善STEM相关学科和 激励下一代科学家、工程师和医生。

Project Summary Deciphering how the brain functions remains one of the great challenges remaining to humanity, intriguing scientific professionals and the public equally. The notorious complexity of the nervous system results in neural diseases remaining widespread and difficult to treat. Tools for studying the brain are often difficult to use and only available to graduate students and scientists in large research universities. Providing accessible neuroscience research tools and educational equipment for high schools will accelerate neuroscience innovation by exposing future scientists, engineers, and doctors to principles of nervous system function at much earlier stages in their careers. Implementing electrophysiology and other neuroscience techniques into K12 education has historically been difficult to the lack of affordable tools combined with compelling and accessible learning materials. To address this need, we are developing a neuroscience curriculum based on graduate­level neuroscience research tools that can be used in the High School Classroom. 1) The “SpikerBox”: a family of bio­amplifiers that are easy­to­use, inexpensive (<$100), portable, and can detect and record the action potentials of the nervous system of invertebrates, action potentials of human muscles (EMG), the electrical signature of the heart (EKG), and the electrical oscillations of the human brain (EEG). 2) The “RoboRoach”: a wireless neural stimulator for investigating insect behavior. 3) The “OptoStimmer”: a fully portable mobile phone based miniature microscope and electrophysiology apparatus enabling optogenetic experiments in fruit flies in high school classrooms. 4) The “SpikerShield”: a human interface toolkit that allows students to connect their bodies’ electrical signals (from muscles, heart, eyes, and brain) into creative engineering team projects such as robotic grippers, computer mice, musical instruments, video game interfaces, and prosthetic models. 5) A Comprehensive student neuroscience text and Teacher manual that focuses on problem­based instructional neuroscience units, with guidance for managing a problem­based classroom. As neuroscience is a multi­disciplinary field encompassing biology, medicine, mathematics, and engineering, the educational tools and materials to be developed here will improve learning in STEM­related disciplines and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and physicians.