1. REACTION TIME LAB
DAY 1 & 2

2. How Do Neurons Communicate?
Learning Target
Success Criteria
Use mathematical thinking to carry out an investigation about neuron messaging.
Measure reaction times under distracted vs focused conditions.

4. LAB PURPOSE
Students are regularly trying to complete classwork while listening to music, watching Netflix, or hanging out with friends. As access to technology grows, so does the question of how well the human brain can process different information received at the same time. Society recommends using headphones as “Hands-free” devices for improving peoples’ reaction times by eliminating distractions. This lab will help identify whether small distractions have significant impacts on reaction times.

5. Follow the resources on the next slides to research for the lab.
PREPARING FOR THE LAB
How fast will the human nervous system process information when receiving information from more than one source?
Follow the resources on the next slides to research for the lab.

6. SIGHT REFLEXES RESEARCH
Go to Gizmo “Sight vs Sound Reflexes”
Make sure the “SIGHT” page is showing & click on “RANDOM” & “GREEN”
Once you press the start button, random green shapes will appear on the screen. As soon as you see them, click anywhere on the “Click Region” of the screen. Complete the whole trial & record results:
Average Reaction Time:______________
Number of extraneous mouse clicks:___________
Try a new object color: Avg. R.T.:_____________
Number of extraneous mouse clicks:____________

7. SOUND REFLEXES RESEARCH
Go to Gizmo “Sight vs Sound Reflexes”
Make sure the “SOUND” page is showing & click on “RANDOM” & “GREEN”
Once you press the start button, Keep your eyes directly on the screen. As soon as you hear a sound, click anywhere on the “Click Region” of the screen. Complete the whole trial & record results:
Average Reaction Time:______________
Number of extraneous mouse clicks:___________
Repeat with eyes closed: Avg. R.T.:_____________
Number of extraneous mouse clicks:____________

8. SENSORY REFLEXES RESEARCH
Compare your sight & sound reflex time. Was there a significant, (Big enough to matter), difference between the senses? Explain:
2. If you are driving a car, which of these two senses do you feel is more important? Explain:
3. If you were walking down a busy street, which of these senses do you feel is the most important? Explain:

9. whatsyourscience.com/7thgrade/semester2/neuroscience
LAB PRE-READING
whatsyourscience.com/7thgrade/semester2/neuroscience
Scroll down to “Reaction Time Pre-Reading”
(For full 24 page report open “Cognitive distraction white paper…”).

10. LAB PREP
After researching, review the lab worksheet to become more familiar with the lab.
With your partner, identify the “Variables” (SEE NEXT SLIDE)
Write a “Hypothesis” (SEE SLIDE)
Raise your hand for your teacher to check before you proceed.

11. IDENTIFY VARIABLES
What is the difference between the two sets of data?
This is… INDEPENDENT, (MANIPULATED), VARIABLE.
What is the type of data being measured/ observed?
This is… DEPENDENT, (RESPONDING), VARIABLE.
What is the factors kept the same between trials?
This is… CONTROLLED VARIABLES.

12. WRITE A HYPOTHESIS
Use the Independent & Dependent Variables to write a hypothesis as a “If_______ Then_________ because____________________________________.
If (Explain what is going to happen with the I.V. here), then (Explain What you think will happen to the D.V. here), because (Write why you think your prediction supports scientific laws & concepts).

13. CONDUCTING THE LAB “GATHER MATERIALS”
Computer
Data Tables
Some type of distraction
Internet access to:
* HERE”S AN ALTERNATIVE SITE IF HUMANBENCHMARK DOESN’T WORK

14. CONDUCTING THE LAB: “FOCUSED REACTION TIME”
Click the BLUE screen to begin.
The screen will turn Red. As soon as the screen turns Green, “Right Click” your mouse. The screen will immediately give your reaction time in milliseconds (units ms).
Record your time on the “FOCUSED R.T.” table.
Keep going after 5 trials so you have 10 total. Be sure to record your reaction time after each trial.
Record the final average (Listed under your trial time).
Repeat for your partner & record their average.

15. CONDUCTING THE LAB: “DISTRACTED REACTION TIME”
Choose a distraction for your partner.
Click the BLUE screen to begin.
The screen will turn Red. As soon as the screen turns Green, “Right Click” your mouse.
Record your trial time on the “Distracted R.T.” table.
Repeat your trial 10 times & record data after each trial.
When done record the average listed under your trial time.
Switch roles and repeat for your partner& record their average.

16. How Do Neurons Communicate?
Learning Target
Success Criteria
Analyze & interpret data for reaction times of neuron messages.
Write a CERER for the reaction time lab using a graph representing you and your partner’s reaction time data.

17. Observation Questions
How was your distracted reaction time compared to your focused reaction time?
What senses did you use to complete the test?
What organ did you use to process the sensory input messages during the activity?
How is your brain connected to your eyes?
How did the message get from your eyes, to your brain and back to your hand so that you were able to react to the visual input? (don’t just say it passed through neurons, give me specifics)

18. Prepare Your Graph Type
Label Graph “Average Reaction Time: Focused vs Distracted”
Label X-axis “Amount of Attention””
Label Y-axis “Reaction Time (ms)”
Make a “Key” for the data
blue= Focused R.T. & Red= Distracted R.T.
Start your first bar one box over from the (0,0) position for “Your Average Focused R.T.”
Move one more bar over and graph “Your Average Distracted R.T.”
Make a sub label under the bars “Participant #1”
Repeat for your partner’s scores & label “Participant #2”

19. (SEE NEXT SLIDES FOR INSTRUCTIONS)
SCIENTIFIC REASONING
1. Watch Video: “The Distracted Mind”.
2. After watching this clip, use your “Pre-Reading” article, to find reasoning that supports your lab quantitative data (Claim) to answer the question below…
(SEE NEXT SLIDES FOR INSTRUCTIONS)
How fast will the human nervous system process information when receiving information from more than one source?

20. WRITING THE CLAIM *DO NOT USE THE WORD BECAUSE IN THIS SENTENCE!!!!!!!
What is the answer to the experiment question? Look at your graph to find the highest reaction time avg. Also find the lowest reaction time avg. (HINT: The lowest number shows the fastest reaction time).
Put it together: Use this information to answer the question in 1 single sentence/
*DO NOT USE THE WORD BECAUSE IN THIS SENTENCE!!!!!!!

21. 1st Piece of Evidence & it’s Reasoning to explain “Significance”
EVIDENCE: Look at your graph to find the highest reaction time avg. Also find the lowest reaction time avg.
REASONING: Calculate the Mathematical Difference between the two numbers. Is it significant to show a reason to support the claim?
Put it together: Write your evidence statement for the CER (Make sure to identify what type of reaction time each number represents), (DO NOT WRITE BECAUSE IN THIS SENTENCE). In the Next sentence explain why the mathematical difference is strong enough to support the claim. (THIS IS WHERE YOU SHOULD USE THE WORD BECAUSE).

22. 2nd Piece of Evidence & it’s Reasoning to explain “Relevance of Patterns & “Scientific Concept”
Look at your graph or data table to find a second piece of evidence (This might be a pattern you notice on you and your partner’s data).
Decide why this information is relevant to support your first piece of evidence and to support the claim.
Choose the “Scientific Concept/Topic” it connects with.
Put it together: Write your 2nd evidence statement sentence without the word “Because.” In the next sentence explain its relevance and “USE THE WORD BECAUSE” before you give the scientific explanation of “How it works.”