Neurobiology Workshop

In the Phase II Neurobiology lab, the Scholars focused on how drugs affected a mouse heart and the reaction cockroach leg spines had to different forms of stimulation. The Scholars involved in this lab were Jonah, Brookelyn, Aspen, Grady, and Chana. They gave embryonic mouse hearts caffeine and Sudafed. Both of these substances were meant to increase heart rate. The goal was to see which substance excited the heart more. The Scholars also bent the cockroach leg spines in different directions and even played music in an effort to see how the musical vibrations would affect the nerve reactions.

The Scholars learned a great deal in a week. Katelyn said she “learned about how electricity flows in the neurons.” Jonah learned that “each neuron has a different amplitude, which is the height of the wave that represented the reaction of the nerves.” Chana thought that she “learned a lot about axons and how they work.” The Scholars enjoyed the lab. According to Jonah, “[They] had great teachers.” The names of these teachers were Marti, Lauren, Comron, Kelly, Josh, Chris, and Curtis. The interns involved assisted by asking questions and moving the Scholars’ thoughts along.