Neural Networking

Neurons Most people assume the brain is hard-wired, meaning that is like a light switch and when you turn on the switch it goes on. In reality a single neuron does not always produce the same outcome. We can prove this today by using a few experiments.

Experiment #1 Toe Touching Materials: Blindfold, bare foot and a pen.

Toe Participant Thinks Touched Pg 32 of portfolio Experimenters - Make a table like this with 15 rows Toe Touched Toe Participant Thinks Touched

Then have them put on the blindfold. Experiment #1 Get with a partner. At this time have your partner take off his/her shoe and put their foot somewhere easy to access. Then have them put on the blindfold.

Experiment #1 Using a pen only touch the second, third and fourth toe. Touch them with a pen tip, not sufficient to move the toe but enough to make a mark or depress the skin. 2 3 4

Toe Participant Thinks Touched Experiment #1 Pause between each touch. Record which toe you touched, and which toe the student thinks was touched. Do this 15 times. Example: Toe Touched Toe Participant Thinks Touched 1 Third Toe 2 Second toe Third toe

Experiment #2 The participant in the last experiment, will now be the experimenter.

Pg 32 of portfolio Experimenters - Make a table like this. Correct Finger Moved/Pen Incorrect Finger Moved/Pen Correct Finger Moved/NoPen Incorrect Finger Moved/NoPen

Experiment #2 With the participants hands interlaced, the experimenter lightly touched the finger he wants the participant to move. Later, with the participants hands interlaced, the experimenter points to the finger (not touching) he wants the participant to move. Try not to pause during the experiment. The faster you go the more errors. Try each 10 times and record results. Correct Finger Moved/Pen Incorrect Finger Moved/Pen Correct Finger Moved/NoPen Incorrect Finger Moved/NoPen 4 5 6 9

How accurate was the participant in the experiment? Why? Final question How accurate was the participant in the experiment? Why?