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Activity (Hands-On)Grades 10 - 12

Mapping the Brain: Neurons, Synapses, and Movement

A figure showing the lobes of the brain in different colors, with labels that identify them.Students explore the brain anatomy and construct a basic homunculus to map brain regions to body functions

This is the first activity in a unit of four activities. Students are introduced to foundational neuroscience concepts, focusing on motor and sensory neurons and their connections to muscles at the synapse. Through handouts and activities, they explore brain anatomy and construct a basic homunculus to map brain regions to body functions. Students then engage in a hands-on micro:bit activity—observing and manipulating a simulated “beating heart” and a finger dexterity game—where wrist and finger movements control the heart’s size. This experiment helps students explore how different levels of movement affect neuron recruitment. Using an inquiry-based approach, they analyze these patterns and apply their findings to build a detailed neuron-muscle interaction map.

Biomedical, neural, and biomechanical engineers play a crucial role in studying neuron recruitment due to its significance in medical technology, rehabilitation, and human movement. Biomedical engineers develop prosthetics, brain-machine interfaces, and electromyography (EMG) devices to measure muscle activation. Neural engineers, a specialized subset, focus on brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), deep brain stimulation (DBS) for neurological disorders, and neuroprosthetics that translate brain activity into motion. Meanwhile, biomechanical engineers analyze muscle function and neuron recruitment to enhance sports performance, rehabilitation devices, and injury prevention strategies, ensuring optimal movement efficiency in both medical and athletic settings.

After this activity, students should be able to:

  • Identify and describe neurons, synapses, and different lobes of the brain and their functions.
  • Describe how neurons are recruited for muscle function, specifically how neuron recruitment is increased or decreased depending on muscle need.
  • Be able to design an experiment to predict neuron recruitment based on the beating heart micro:bit demonstration.
  • Be able to use data obtained from the micro:bit beating heart experiment to draw a diagram or map of brain areas where neurons are recruited for specific muscle activities.

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