Summer SAVY 2016 (Session 4AM, Day 3) – Neuroscience of the Senses

Posted by hallep on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 in Grade 5, Grade 6, SAVY.

Today we examined the ways in which neurons talk to each other in the nervous system. To represent their knowledge of neuronal structures, the students used arts and crafts materials to assemble neurons. You will be impressed by the wide array of materials and approaches they used to express their understanding! An important way in which neurons communicate is by generating electrical signals known as action potentials. The students worked in groups to break down this multi-step process into skits that they presented to the rest of the class. Using body movement and props, we demonstrated various neural events such as the binding of a neurotransmitter to an ion channel, movement of sodium and potassium across the neuronal membrane, and release of neurotransmitters into a synapse. Now that we have finished up our section on the basics of neuroscience, we will devote the following class days to exploring each of the sensory systems in a greater level of detail.