- •Chapter 2 Cognitive Neuroscience
- •1. A Working Neuron in the Classroom
- •2. Group Reaction Time and Neural Speed
- •3. Hemispheric Activity Interferes with Ability to Work a Counter
- •Outline for Chapter 2
- •Supplemental Activities
- •1. A Working Neuron in the Classroom
- •Written by Nancy Jo Melucci, Santa Monica College
- •2. Group Reaction Time and Neural Speed
- •Written by Nancy Jo Melucci, Santa Monica College
- •3. Hemispheric Activity Interferes With Ability to Work a Counter
- •1. Neurogenesis Alcohol
- •2. Doogie mice
- •CogLab - Brain Asymmetry -
- •1. Does your data provide evidence that you have an asymmetric brain? Explain your answer. Do the same for the global results.
- •2. Describe another experiment that would test for brain asymmetry. It should be different from this experiment and the split-brain language experiment already described.
- •3. What skills/processes are primarily associated with the left hemisphere? What about the right hemisphere?
- •Advanced Questions
- •1. What types of professions might benefit from using what we know about brain asymmetry?
- •2. Describe a task that might be more difficult for a split-brain patient than a normal individual.
- •3. The interpretation of the experimental results relies on a comparison between the data from right-handed participants as well as left-handed participants. Why is this the case?
- •Discussion Question
- •1. Why might it be advantageous for us to have a brain in which some processes are specific to one hemisphere?
- •**It is not clear why the brain is set up in an asymmetrical way, so a broad array of student responses could be appropriate here. This question can be used as a creative thinking exercise.
- •Useful Websites
- •The Whole Brain Atlas
- •Test Bank Multiple Choice
- •Korsakoff’s syndrome.
- •Midbrain.
- •Localization of function
- •Hemispheric specialization.
- •Static Imaging Techniques
- •Metabolic Imaging
- •Static Imaging Techniques
Useful Websites
Basic Neural Processes Tutorials
http://psych.hanover.edu/Krantz/neurotut.html
A great site developed by John Krantz of Hanover College, it provides a collection of tutorials in basic neural processes. It allows students to quiz themselves on neuron and brain structure, and find out more detailed information about the process of neural communication.
Brain Imaging Demos from the MNI
http://www.bic.mni.mcgill.ca/demos/
This site provides some fascinating graphic demonstrations of various brain-imaging techniques with both pictures and some video clips.
The Brain Model Tutorial
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~Brainmd1/brain.html
A wonderful interactive site where students can click on the names of brain structures and see beautiful detailed close up images of them.
The Epilepsy Foundation
http://www.efa.org/
An informative site for students who may have questions about epilepsy and want to research its causes and treatments.
Neuropsychology Central
http://www.neuropsychologycentral.com/index.html
This is one of the major sites with information related to brain science. It contains a wealth of information, including information on neuroimaging, neuropsychological assessment, and links to related organizations and research laboratories.
Neurosciences on the Internet
http://www.neuroguide.com/
Another megasite for information related to brain science, this site features links to neuroscience research centers, neurological diseases, brain images, and neuroscience journals. This site also has a searchable database.
Neuroscience for Kids
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html
Everyone is a kid at heart. The site provides nice demos and discussions of the brain that anyone can enjoy and from which anyone can learn.
Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center
http://www.neurodiscovery.harvard.edu/about/about.html
This site provides a brief overview of a number of neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s) in addition to some of the current research for various neurodegenerative diseases. In case there are questions generated by the discussion of various diseases, this site links to a wide variety of education, advocacy, and research sites.
The Whole Brain Atlas
http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/home.html
This site provides an extensive guide to the brain, including an atlas of normal brain structure, a list of the top 100 brain structures, and a quiz that tests knowledge of brain structure. The site also contains information about various forms of pathology and how these affect brain structure and function.
SERENDIP
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/kinser/Home1.html
This webpage allows you to explore the structure of the brain with images of real brains and different slicing techniques. Allow illustrated are comparative brains across species.
Science News Daily
http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/
Science News Daily’s website has a section devoted to the latest research on the mind and brain written for the layman. It is a valuable resource to direct students to or to add a new highlight to your discussion on most recent research findings.