Jonah Rondash

INTERNET RESEARCH ON THE BRAIN

Go to the NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS page at
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html.
Use the following questions to navigate through the pages. Record the information to the
questions as you find it.
1. On the "Neuroscience For Kids" homepage, scroll down to the Table Of Contents. Click on the
colored words, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." This will bring you to a variety of topics.
Scroll down to the section on "THE BRAIN." Click on the colored words "DIVISIONS OF THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM." Answer the following questions from the information there...
What are the two major subdivisions of the nervous system?
Central nervous system peripheral nervous system
What is another name for a "nerve cell"? Neuron
What two structures make up the central nervous system? Brain and spinal cord
About how much does the brain weigh? 1.3-1.4 kg
About how many nerve cells are in the brain?
2. From this page click on the colored words, "BRAIN FACTS AND FIGURES." Using the data
on this page, answer the following questions:
What animal has the largest brain? Bottled nose dolphin
What animal has the smallest brain? Gold fish
Does brain size correlate to intelligence? Yes
3. Go back to the page, "DIVISIONS OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM." Scroll down to
the "HEAR IT" section. Play the words, AMYGDALA, CEREBELLUM, AND DIENCEPHALON.
Try to say these words yourself!!!
Continue scrolling down to the section called "BRAIN STRUCTURES"
Where is the cerebral cortex located? Outer layer of the brain
What is a groove in the cortex called? Sulci

What is a bump in the cortex called? Gyrus

What is one area of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning? In the limbic system
Label the parts of the brain pictured below:

4. Go back to the page "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on the colored words,
"OUR DIVIDED BRAIN."
What are the four major lobes of the brain? Parietal, temporal, frontal, and top.
What happened to Phineas Gage? He was in a really bad explosion, his brain was pretty shaken
up. But fortunately was bale to function again. This accident contributed too our knowledge of
the brain works.
5. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on the colored words,
"ONE BRAIN OR TWO?"
Name two functions that are dominant on the left brain side of the brain.
Language
Logic

The right side of the brain? Music and color

What structure connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres? Corpus callusm
What side of the brain controls language in most people? The left
List 4 famous left-handed folks Tim Tebow, Micheal Vick, Tyler Palko, Matt Leinart.

6. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on the colored
words, "HE BRAINS, SHE BRAINS."
Is the proportion of brain weight to body weight different for men and women? Yes, Most men
have bigger bodies, which means they have bigger brains. But this does not really affect
intelligence.
What happens to mens' brains as they age? They grow and get smarter

7. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on the colored words,
"BRAIN DEVELOPMENT."
When does the nervous system begin to form? One of the first things too form, Most people don't
know they are pregnant until the nervous system is formed.
8. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on the colored words,
"THE VENTRICLES AND CSF."
What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)? A fluid in the brain cortex produced by chloride plexuses.
Name at least 2 functions of CSF. Acts as a cushion for the brains cortex, Provides mechanical
and immunological protection to the brain inside the skull.
9. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on the colored words,
"THE BRAIN DURING SLEEP."
What instrument is used to measure brain activity? EEG
About how much of your life do you spend asleep? About a third of your life.

What does REM stand for? A unit of effective absorbed dose of ionizing radiation in human
tissue, equivalent to one roentgen of X-rays.

10. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on the colored words,
"BRAIN FITNESS - YOUR GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH."
List three tips given on this page for good health.\
Wear your seat belt
Wear your helmet
Stay away from illegal drugs

11. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on the colored words,
"THE BRAIN VS. THE COMPUTER."
Which sends signals faster, a brain or a computer? Brain
12. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on the colored words,
"WHAT BECAME OF EINSTEIN'S BRAIN?"
When did Einstein die? April 18, 1955
Who removed his brain? Thomas s. Harvey
Where is the brain now? On display at the Mutter Museum.
13. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Scroll down to the bottom of
the page where it says, "THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on
the colored word "ALCOHOL."
What kind of drug is alcohol? Sedatives
What term is given to drugs that kill brain cells? Neurotoxin
14. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Scroll down to the bottom of
the page where it says, "THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on

the colored word "CAFFEINE."

Which soft drink has the most caffeine per serving? Diet Pepsi Max
What are two negative side effects of caffeine? Insomnia.
Nervousness.
Restlessness.
15. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Scroll down to the bottom of
the page where it says, "THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on
the colored word "COCAINE."
Is cocaine an addicting drug? What organ does it affect other than the brain? Yes and the frontal
lobe
16. Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Scroll down to the bottom of
the page where it says, "THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on
the colored word "MARIJUANA." Scroll down and click on the colored words, "MARIJUANA:
FACTS FOR TEENS."
List two short-term effects of marijuana use: Sleepy and panic.
List two possible long-term effects of marijuana use:\ Reduction of male sex hormones, growth
disorders.
What effects may marijuana have on the babies of pregnant women who smoke marijuana? Their
is not a lot of data on the topic now, but studies have shown that some brain disorders cold occur
when a fetus is exposed to THC.
17. Open the The Split Brain Experiment
( http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/split-brain/ )
What exactly is a "split brain" having the corpus callosum severed or absent, so as to eliminate
the main connection between the two hemispheres of the brain.

Describe a person with a split brain: Many patients with split-brain syndrome are not that
good socially. Split-brain patients also maintain motor skills that were learned before the
onset of their condition and require both sides of the body. They can also learn new
tasks that involve either parallel or mirrored movements of their fingers or hands. They
cant learn things that require interdependent movement of each hand
18. For Fun (if time permits)

Memory Games -- http://www.zefrank.com/memory/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/reallywild/fun/games/memory_game/
Brain Games - http://www.gamesforthebrain.com/
Eyetricks Games - http://www.eyetricks.com/braingames.htm
Psychological Tests - http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/

19. Brain and Nervous System Project: Do research on a brain disease or disorder of your
choice and create a PowerPoint, Google Presentation, Thinglink or other approved format about
1) What is your disease/disorder, 2) How do you get it? (inherited, virus, bacterial, etc?), 3)
Treatments and Therapies, 4) Novel Research and Facts, 5) Support Groups, and 6) Bibliography
Helpful links:
http://www.g2conline.org/
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/