First, make sure that you understand the basics of neural transmission. Watch this short animation, then take a look at both "Synapses Change" and "The Synapse", both of which are narrated in a slightly childish tone, but do an excellent job of providing an overview of what happens when neurons "communicate". Reward yourself after wards with the "Synaptic Cleft Rap". This collection of animations can be reviewed as one entry on your summary work due Tuesday.
Next, take a listen to an NPR interview with one of the authors of a new neuroscience book "Welcome to Your Child's Brain". The interview is 16 minutes long. Please take notes while listening so that your summary is detailed and intelligent.
Finally, you may choose between one of the two following options. Option 1 is a National Geographic article, "Beautiful Brains", a really interesting article about the teen brain. If you choose this option, please read the entire article and compose a thoughtful response.
Option 2 consists of two fascinating videos from one of the most well respected neuroscience researchers, V.S. Ramachandran. I won't pretend that the concepts are not difficult, but if you're up for a challenge (again keep in mind that your dendrites will benefit :)) I applaud you. If you choose this option, I recommend a separate review for "The Neurons that Shaped Civilization" and "The Uniqueness of Human Consciousness".
Good Luck, happy learning and I have the utmost confidence in all of you, but particularly those among you who, like Thomas Jefferson, are "great believers in luck" :).
Animations are the best! Although the animations are a little on the childish side, they do a good job at thoroughly explaining. Before watching the animations, I really didn't understand synapses and all that, but now it's super clear. The interview with the two authors was really cool too, but the animations were much cooler.
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you something Ms. Rious... these articles and videos did nothing for me but make me even more confused. I honestly do not know what is going on. I hope that you will be offering some kind of extra help with this after school before the test comes because I NEED it! /:
ReplyDeleteThe animation was VERY informal but I do agree with Candace these animations are really childish. .. its cool because I actually understand now. In class I was like what the crap was going on ... the videos were nice but not as nice as the animations... all this was very informal because I have thought about majoring in neuroscience...
ReplyDeletemrs.rious the animations help me understand a lil more.....i dont fully understand everthing yet....IM LOST HELP ME!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe animations were cool. They were very informative and helpful. They really broke down everything about synapses and whatnot, but I'm going to have to review like crazy and really study this stuff, because it was too much at one time. On the other hand, my favorite part was the Synaptic Cleft video with Bobby Voltage and the Glu-Tang Clan. They gave me a nice little giggle along with a bundle of information. :)
ReplyDeleteThe geographic article about teen brains became more and more unbelievable as I read on. I knew that as a teen, the brains development process wasn't over, but I didn't know that it was the reason teens take the risks that they do. There were a lot of points made in the geographic article that I agreed with, one being how adults always ask the question whats wrong with 'em. I believe that when any person, not just teens, are experiencing a specific enviornment, they will be influenced. For the teens case some believe it's because their young, and thats true to some exrent, the teens brain is immature. The brain is still gathering it's info and will use it as it is influenced. One question was brought up and it covered selection and how it is hell on dysfunctional traits. If adolescence is essentially a collection of them—angst, idiocy, and haste; impulsiveness, selfishness, and reckless bumbling—then how did those traits survive selection? This is a question I would really like to know the answer to. But over all the videos helped me understand neurons more clearly.
ReplyDeleteThe animations are very childish as everyone has said. This was my first time hearing about the calcium,potassium,sodium and chloride ion. The videos were over all nice. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite clip was the music video. It's a hit to me. Even though the other clips were a little childish they were still helpful. They helped me understand concepts of neurons I didn't quite get at first.
ReplyDeleteI'm childish so the animations were very entertaining to me and while they did help me understand all the concepts you are teaching me again, the whole idea of the videos and respondign confused me . all this work not right woman !
ReplyDeleteThese animations rock! They are extremely interactive. Though they may be a bit childish, they do a great job at thoroughly explaining the process that involves neruotransmitters. The last video in particular went into great detail about synapses and chemical ions. I dont understand why the narrator had to have a speech impediment though...
ReplyDeleteHonestly, the videos just confused me more. Although they discussed the same concepts, they used different terms that we didn't learn in class.
ReplyDeleteThe second video, "Synapse Change", was the easiest to understand because I was already familiar with the process. The animations also gave me more of a visual understanding.
The playful illustrations for explaining the processes of neural communication linked informational gaps (no pun intended :)) that hindered me from fully understanding the complex procedures. Therefore, the second and third videos were the most helpful and entertaining for me.
ReplyDeleteThat article on the brain was extreemly awesome, whereas I strongly dislike the idea of sitting through an audio discussion...I could not focus on it.
ReplyDeleteThe synapse things was helpful and the article and interview was cool too
ReplyDeleteThe animations are always easier for me to understand things
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