Brain Internet Search and Discover

Below is an assignment I do when I can get a computer lab for my regular psychology class.  Our school of 3000 has only two labs.  I love each of these sites--I use this assignment as a springboard into the brain and neuroscience after my students have become familiar with the brain (after about a week or two).  It is NOT a webquest, but rather a search and discover (my term, nothing official).  I checked all the links this morning and they all work. Many of my students are also poor and do not have computers and/or internet access at home to complete the assignment.

We have an alternating block schedule.  Given that, I added the last two sites on optical illusions for the students who work more quickly and give them something that could be endlessly entertaining.  My biggest goal is exposure to the possibilities of the brain and topics that interest them--that's why I began with sleep ;)

posted by Chuck Schallhorn

Mr. Schallhorn's Psychology/Brain             Name                                                                                                     Per         

Internet Search and Discover (rev. 10/13)

Follow ALL Directions: ·         Today's exercise is designed to take your through some excellent sites about the brain and help you review and understand the ideas for the unit. ·         Complete each section before moving on to the next one. ·         Go to my web site to access all these specific sites without having to type in each link.

Site 1: The Teenage Brain: Why We Sleep http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/from/sleep.html This link examines why teens sleep so differently than other people.  Read the first several sections and explain what the research says about teens and sleep.

Site 2: The Brain in 3-D Form-- http://www.g2conline.org/ --once here, look to the right and view the 3-D brain section This link shows the brain in 3-Dimensional form.  Play with the simulation to get a feel for the brain and how parts relate to one another.  Do this and read the descriptions at the right of the page.  Spend about five minutes doing this.  Name three things you learned about the brain by using this tool. 1. 2.  3.

Site 3: Brain Scans—http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/scanning/index.html This link explains in detail and great color just how science can scan the brain. What does each do and HOW does it achieve its measurement of the brain. EEG CAT PET MEG fMRI/MRI

Site 4: Brains in the News--http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/inthenews.html Neuroscience for Kids--in the News Choose one of the articles and give a four-six sentence summary of its contents.

Site 5: Brain Games Neuroscience for Kids--Neuroscience Games Choose a game that is for kids in high school. Play it and report back as to what you learned from it.

Site 6: Topic of Your Choice Scan the article titles on this page. Make a list of topics  (at least 8x) the magazine is currently offering. http://www.sciam.com/sciammind/

Site 7: Medical News Today Article—Search this site for articles dealing with the brain (easy search box at the top).  Choose and article.  Choose one and create a mini-report (summarize in 4-6 sentences on the article topics about which you read).  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

Site 8: Sheep Brain Dissection http://www.exploratorium.edu/memory/braindissection/index.html This link takes you through the dissection of a sheep brain and the connection to that of a human brain.  Please take key notes (at least 8) that are important to understand the brain.

Site 9: Society for Neuroscience: http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=brainfacts Take a look at the page.  Choose one of the topics under “main page.”  Read that section and summarize it here.

Optical Illusions Sites Go to the following links and experience the world of optical illusions. What do you see—what illusions grab your attention and why http://www.grand-illusions.com/ 1. 2. 3. What is happening to you when you view these illusions?  What is your reaction to it? http://www.youramazingbrain.org/supersenses/illusions.htm

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Mapping the Brain: Brain Scans-New Amazing Interactive

I just received my newsletter from PBS about NOVA Spark newsletter--available here: http://app.nationalproduction.wgbh.org/e/es.aspx?s=2531&e=4434&elq=357d7be649404349bf35470a8e6033a3

In it, there was a link to an amazing brain scan online tool where the user can choose the brain scan, choose the view, and choose the brain part(s) to be examined.  This is just so cool I could spend a couple of hours just playing around and investigating how and where everything is and connects.  Thank you PBS.

In addition to the scans, you see the different views--coronal, sagittal and axial.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/assets/swf/1/mapping-the-brain/mapping-the-brain.html

Check it out--very much worth your time.

Posted by Chuck

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The Human Brain Book by Rita Carter

I've been able to purchase and read several books this past spring and summer.  I will be posting about several of them.  The first summer review is The Human Brain Book by Rita Carter (the subtitle is "An illustrated guide to its structure, function, and disorders).  The book makes for not just a great coffee table book (it's over sized), but also includes a DVD that has some additional features one can use in class. The publisher is D/K, the wonderful publishers whose books are among my favorites.



Oh, how I wish I had a book like this when I began teaching psychology.  From a visual learner's point of view, this book hits the jackpot. It begins with a history of studying the brain, landmarks in neuroscience and photos of a series of brain scans.  You know all those pesky little questions that your students ask, but you're not sure of the answer because your neuroscience course was 20+ years ago and the images (I mean drawings) were in black and white?  This book has those answers.  There are 70+ pages of pictures and explanations of brain anatomy (all the parts, not just the ones in our texts), brain zones, neurons, and research to satisfy the best of us. 

This book has a chapter on the senses, one on movement and control, emotions and feelings, the social brain, language and communication, memory, thinking, consciousness, the individual brain, development and aging, and concludes with diseases and disorders.

Although I have not read every word on every page, just for the illustrations, I am giving this book my highest recommendation.  It is a must for every psychology class.  Order by clicking below.  You will not be disappointed.





Posted by Chuck Schallhorn

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Exploring the Mind of a Serial Killer

TEDTalks is an excellent intellectual series highlighting scientists and their research. Their website is http://www.ted.com/

I subscribe to their iTunes feeds and came across a six minute talk by Jim Fallon, a neuroscientist with a fascinating family history.

Where do serial killers come from? Nearly all out students ask us and want to know. Now, the talk is on the website and includes genetic, epigenetic, environmental factors as potential causes. He shows brain scans of people based upon double-blinded research he did. Fascinating and brief. Perfect in our short attention-span world.

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