Nervous System Lab: Sensory Activities

Train the Brain: Have your partner place all of the “puzzle” pieces face down. Tell your partner GO as you start the stopwatch. Time how long it takes them create the correct picture. Record time. Replace all pieces upside down. Perform a second trial. Record time. Tell your partner the second puzzle is of a microscope. Repeat steps 2 and 3. Record the times. Write 1-3 sentence conclusion on changes in times, if any, and why you believe a change in time occurred between each of the scenarios.

Train the Brain Data: Write conclusion paragraph below: Time for puzzle 1 Trial 1: Time for puzzle 1 Trial 2: Time for Microscope Puzzle Trial 1: Time for Microscope Puzzle 1 Trial 2: Write conclusion paragraph below:

Brain Pain: GENTLY poke your partner on the arm with a single pin. Now pick the widest distanced double pin and GENTLY poke your partner. Make sure they can distinguish between one and two pins. Select two areas on the arm/hand. Starting at location one. Hold the single pin in one had and the double pin in the other hand. GENTLY alternate between the pins in a random pattern for 10 pokes. With your partner’s eyes closed, ask them to identify 1 or 2 pins. Have your third partner chart each poke as correct or incorrect. Exchange the distanced pin for one slightly closer together. Repeat steps 5 & 6. Continue until you have done a trial of all 4 distanced pins. Answer the associated questions for this section.

Brain Pain Data Table: Poke 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 # correct # wrong Location 1: Location 2: 1. Which area provided the most accurate response? Why do you think this? 2. How do you think these results relate to the sensory receptors located in the locations you tested? 3. What other areas in your body do you think would give accurate results? Why? Which other areas do you think would give the LEAST accurate results? Why?

Super Sensitive? Place your non-writing hand into the container. DO NOT peak with your eyes. Feel around for the objects. As you feel around for the objects record adjectives that describe the texture of the objects. Answer the associated questions.

Super Sensitive List adjectives that describe the textures you feel: Why might it be important to be able to recognize all of these different textures? Do other parts of your body recognize this many different textures? Why or why not?

Auto focus Eye: Ask your partner to hold a pencil or object at arm’s length and focus their eyes on it. Sit close to them and ask them slowly bring the object closer until it reaches their nose. Watch their eyes focus as they move the object. Switch with your partner and record observations. If you shine a light on one eye and not the other, what result do you think this will have on the pupil? Write a prediction before the experiment. Using a mirror, observe the pupils in both of your eyes. In a bright room, cover one eye with your hand but keep the eye open. Continue to perform this for at least 1-2 minutes. Uncover the eye, and use the mirror to observe your pupils. Record your observations. Let your eyes stabilize. Go to a dark room, repeat process 3 & 4. Record your observations.

Auto Eye Data: What observations did you make as an object is moved and the eye focusing? What did your pupils/eyes look like before the experiment? What did you observe after the light room? What did you observe after the dark room? Give an possible explanation of your observations:

What’s that smell? Using your sample set labeled 1-8 sniff the holes on the top of the canister. Pass the canister around to everyone at your table before saying out loud what you think it might be. As a group guess the substance and record your guess. Answer additional questions.

What’s that smell? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1. Using the teacher’s key, grade your observations. How many did your group get correct? 2. What types of smells were easy? Difficult? Why do you think so?