Objectives

 

This is an online laboratory investigation that will allow you the opportunity to scan through various websites that relate to the human body and its systems. Additionally, you will have the chance to do a series of interactive experiments regarding some of your senses. During your investigation of the various sites you will find a number of exercises and experiments that can be used as is or modified for your own classroom use. Finally, this lab investigation should provide an opportunity to have a little fun and learn a few things at the same time.

 

Procedures

 

1. The first site you will want to visit is the Life and Death of a Neuron. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/ninds_neuron.htm#introduction

 

2. Next you will go to Get Body Smart  

    http://www.getbodysmart.com

    There are a number of systems you can visit. At the very least read

    through the Nervous System and the Circulatory System.

 

3. Next comes the interactive fun parts. Go to Neuroscience for Kids

    http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/introb.html

    After being amazed at all the possibilities that exist, go to the left hand

    column and click on Experiment. Next click on the section that says

    Brain Games. Play the following games:

       a. Colors, Colors

       b. Try a Brain Jigsaw Puzzle

       c. Go to the Online Response Time Experiments. Do

              i. Experiment 2 - Stoplight Test

              ii. Experiment 3 – Hit the Spot

             iii. Experiment 5 – Check Box Test

       d. Online short Term Memory Game

       e. Face Recognition Game

       f. Check out the Brain Jokes

 

4. Click back to the previous page. If you are not sure, simply click on the

    word experiment in the left hand column. Go to the section entitled

    The Senses. Go to the page and click on the section about Vision. Do

    the following exercises:

       a. The Blind Spot

       b. Depth Perception I & II

       c. Shifting Backgrounds, Shifting Images

       d. Go to Visual Illusion and Click on the Kids Gallery. Do both sets

             of Illusions. Look at the rest of the visual illusions.

 

5. Go back to The Senses and visit some of the other areas. It is not

    necessary to do any of the other experiments or activities unless you

    want to.

 

Questions

Answers shall be typed or word processed. All sentences will be

grammatically correct and all words properly spelled.

 

1.     Define the following terms. Provide examples for each.

a.     chemoreception

b.     photoreception

c.     stimulant

d.     depressant

 

2.    How do drugs affect the nervous system?

 

3.    Specifically, how do the following chemicals affect the nervous system?

a.     caffeine

b.     cocaine

c.     nicotine

d.     alcohol

 

4.    Is an anesthetic a stimulant or a depressant ? Explain.

 

5.    How does the sympathetic nervous system react during times of stress?

 

Match the part of the brain or nervous system related to the activities.

 

Controls many internal functions during stress ___________________________

 

In control of the body at rest                             ___________________________

 

Sends sensory signals to the cerebrum              ___________________________

 

Controls breathing and heart rate                      ___________________________

 

Controls memory, language and the senses        ___________________________

 

Controls balance, posture, coordination             ___________________________