A biologically-inspired, interactive digital device to introduce K12 students to computational neuroscience

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PROJECT SUMMARY Understanding the brain is a profound and fascinating challenge, captivating the scientific community and the public alike. The lack of effective treatment for most brain disorders makes the training of the next generation of neuroscientists, engineers, and physicians a key concern. However, much of neuroscience is perceived to be too difficult to be taught in school. Having already introduced student-friendly, NIH-funded electrophysiological tools for project-based learning into K12 education, Backyard Brains is now aiming to broaden the impact by developing “Computational SpikerBox”, a counterpart to our electrophysiological SpikerBox. This embedded digital device with adjustable parameters will sound via a speaker, see via a mobile device display, and react via sensors. By modulating ion channels and changing ionic conductances in this model, students will gain insight into how neurons are affected by analgesics and various venoms. High school teachers and students evaluated our prototype devices in a workshop and stated that it did help them to develop intuition about biological neurons through the computational model. In Phase I, we will refine and ruggedize our Computational SpikerBox for the classroom and build out the partnering application. The proposed device will allow for experiments that had previously been impossible in the classroom, including but not limited to observing subthreshold neuron activity or pre- and post-synaptic voltages. To alleviate the learning process and make it fun and intuitive, the app will have an intuitive drag-and-drop interface to construct modeling of neuron behavior via closing or opening of ion channels within the stimulus parameters, mapping the voltage values to the ionic currents, visualizing their result of ion channel modulation and predict outcomes in a diseased neuron based on the correct sequence of constructing the neuronal activity. Our aims to enhance the hardware and software will be accompanied by developing an innovative NGSS-aligned lesson plan based on the Computational SpikerBox in a Neuroscience classroom in Detroit, MI. The implementation of this lesson plan will be assessed by Rockman et al Cooperative, who will evaluate student content knowledge, attitudes and interest in Science, and Self-Efficacy as a scientist. Our overall Phase I goal is to empower students to understand the fundamentals of the biological properties of neurons, all within the NGSS framework. In Phase II, we plan to expand the curriculum and the capabilities of our Computational SpikerBox, extending the focus from a single neuron behavior to connections between a small number of neurons and how it relates to higher-level computational modeling of the brain. Our long-term aim is for K12 students to develop a practical understanding of key neural network concepts and engage in computational thinking (CT), a way of solving problems, designing systems, and understanding the world by breaking complex problems down into smaller components.