Backyard Brains: Bringing Neurophysiology Into Secondary Schools

项目摘要 破译大脑的功能仍然是人类面临的最大挑战之一， 科学家和公众平等。众所周知的神经系统的复杂性导致神经系统的 研究大脑的工具通常很难使用， 只提供给大型研究型大学的研究生和科学家。提供无障碍 用于高中的神经科学研究工具和教育设备将加速神经科学 通过让未来的科学家、工程师和医生了解神经系统功能的原理， 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 K12教育在历史上一直很难，因为缺乏负担得起的工具， 无障碍学习材料。 为了满足这一需求，我们正在开发一个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”：一系列生物放大器，易于安装使用，价格便宜（<100美元），便携式， 检测和记录无脊椎动物神经系统的动作电位， 人的肌肉（EMG）、心脏的电特征（EKG）以及心脏的电振荡。 人脑（EEG）。 2)“RoboRoach”：用于研究昆虫行为的无线神经刺激器。 3)“OptoStimmer”：一个完全便携式的基于微型显微镜和电生理学的移动的手机 在高中教室里进行果蝇光遗传学实验的设备。 4)“SpikerShield”：一个人机界面工具包，允许学生连接他们身体的电 信号（从肌肉，心脏，眼睛和大脑）到创造性的工程团队项目，如机器人 抓取器、计算机鼠标、乐器、视频游戏界面和假肢模型。 5)一个全面的学生神经科学文本和教师手册，重点是基于问题的解决方案 教学神经科学单位，与管理问题的指导，基于课堂。 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， 这里开发的教育工具和材料将改善STEM相关学科的学习， 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.