Ron Bayline, Susan Banks, Mary Morrison, Bruce R Johnson
{"title":"Teach Me and I'll Remember.","authors":"Ron Bayline, Susan Banks, Mary Morrison, Bruce R Johnson","doi":"10.59390/LHJI3567","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59390/LHJI3567","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":74004,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience","volume":"20 3","pages":"E29-E31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11256387/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Opportunities to Discuss Diversity-Related Topics in Neuroscience Courses.","authors":"William B Schreiber, Patrese A Robinson-Drummer","doi":"10.59390/AOIN4016","DOIUrl":"10.59390/AOIN4016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diversity is a foundational topic in psychology, and APA recommends that diversity is covered across the psychology curriculum. Neuroscience courses face challenges with incorporating diversity-related topics owing to the historical lack of neuroscience research that focuses on diversity and the restricted range of diversity-related topics that neuroscience is typically associated with (i.e., health and disability status). This may limit students' learning of neuroscience's contributions towards understanding diversity. We review some specific examples of diversity-related topics that can be incorporated into neuroscience courses. These examples have been selected to include topics across the three major content domains of neuroscience (cellular/molecular, neuroanatomy/systems, and cognitive/behavioral), as well as across multiple diversity-related topics. Neuroscience instructors can use these examples to incorporate greater coverage of diversity-related topics within their courses and/or as points of inspiration for their own curricular additions. Providing systematic coverage of diversity-related topics in neuroscience courses highlights the ways neuroscience advances our understanding of human diversity and contributes to the educational objectives of psychology and neuroscience programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":74004,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience","volume":"20 3","pages":"A361-A375"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11256382/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frances W Hooper, Jonathan Morrow, Jasmine Rodriguez, Claire Webb
{"title":"Teaching the Applications of CRISPR/Cas9: Using the African Turquoise Killifish as a Novel Model of Aging and Age-Related Diseases.","authors":"Frances W Hooper, Jonathan Morrow, Jasmine Rodriguez, Claire Webb","doi":"10.59390/XZQL5300","DOIUrl":"10.59390/XZQL5300","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of genome editing technologies, including the novel CRISPR/Cas9 technique, has advanced scientific research concerning the contribution of genetics to disease through the creation of new model organisms. The subject of this review is a 2015 study done by Harel et al. from the journal <i>Cell</i>. This study is a prime example of using CRISPR/Cas9 to create a new model organism to accurately model the effects of aging and age-related diseases on a short-lived vertebrate. This study found that the African turquoise killifish is a reliable model to study the physiological process of aging due to its compressed lifespan. In addition, it provides a genotype-to-phenotype platform to study genes related to the hallmarks of aging and age-related diseases. This paper demonstrates this by showing that killifish deficient in the protein subunit of telomerase display telomerase-related pathologies faster than other established vertebrate models. From a teaching perspective, this paper could be used as a resource for educators to teach students about new technologies emerging in the field of neuroscience and the importance of model organisms. Specifically, for upper-level undergraduate students, this paper could serve as a real-world example of how scientific techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 could be used to answer scientific questions. Further, it shows how these techniques could bring forward new model organisms better suited to answer the scientific questions being asked. Learning these techniques and being open minded to new approaches will be advantageous to students' future careers in science.</p>","PeriodicalId":74004,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience","volume":"20 3","pages":"R5-R8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11256378/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Growing and evolving after twenty years of neuroscience education scholarship.","authors":"Raddy L Ramos","doi":"10.59390/ABRK8282","DOIUrl":"10.59390/ABRK8282","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":74004,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience","volume":"20 3","pages":"E39-E40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11256383/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Online Course in Contemplative Neuroscience Increases Dispositional Mindfulness and Reduces Meditation Barriers.","authors":"Uta Wolfe, Temmy Batoyun","doi":"10.59390/EEBD8126","DOIUrl":"10.59390/EEBD8126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Teaching contemplative neuroscience is emerging as a way to increase the reach and relevance of our field to a wider undergraduate population while also encouraging the beneficial practice of contemplation. In-person classes on the topic have been shown to improve both academic learning and attitudes towards science and meditation. Here we show that a short-term, asynchronous online course in contemplative neuroscience had comparable benefits. Students completed the Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory (DMPI; Williams et al., 2011) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown and Ryan, 2003) at the start and end of the course. Their scores showed reduced barriers to meditation and improved mindfulness after the course, changes predictive of a range of positive behavioral and well-being outcomes. Students also rated the course as highly effective in advancing neuroscience understanding and competency. A comparison group (from an online general psychology class) showed no increase in mindfulness and a significantly weaker reduction in meditation barriers. This success of an online class in both academic and social-emotional learning is promising given the rapid growth of online instruction and the improved access it can provide to non-traditional students. The class format together with its health-relevant topic could thus be a valuable tool for reaching a more diverse student body while at the same time promoting practices linked to both personal and societal benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":74004,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience","volume":"20 3","pages":"A353-A360"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11256380/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cary H Leung, Imrin Goraya, Leena Kasa, Natalie Schottler, William Grisham
{"title":"Measuring Sex Differences in the Corpus Callosum by Undergraduates at a Small and a Large Institution.","authors":"Cary H Leung, Imrin Goraya, Leena Kasa, Natalie Schottler, William Grisham","doi":"10.59390/FULX3501","DOIUrl":"10.59390/FULX3501","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuroscience students often seem more responsive to laboratory exercises that involve human brains. Here we describe a lab that utilizes human brain MRIs to evaluate a long-standing debate over the presence of sex differences in the human brain, specifically the corpus callosum. Students at both Widener and UCLA measured corpus callosum subregions that were already marked-off as described by Witelson (1989) or by Hofer and Frahm (2006). Statistical analyses revealed sex differences using both schemes after correcting for the size of the midsagittal cortex. Widener students, however, uncovered more sex differences than the UCLA students. Lab instruction for UCLA students occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, lab sessions were completely online. In contrast, Widener students had the benefit of in-person lab instruction. Nonetheless, both the data obtained from the images of the corpus callosi as well as measures of pedagogical efficacy were similar between the two institutions, suggesting that distance learning may be a valuable and viable option. Further, when in person learning is not an option, such as during a pandemic, digital databases serve as invaluable resources for online learning. When these databases are utilized in a hypothesis driven research setting, they can serve as the basis for course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), which are known to benefit students-improving retention in science fields.</p>","PeriodicalId":74004,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience","volume":"20 3","pages":"A391-A396"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11256376/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recording from Snail Motor Nerves to Investigate Central Pattern Generation.","authors":"Robert A Wyttenbach, Bruce R Johnson","doi":"10.59390/JCRT2250","DOIUrl":"10.59390/JCRT2250","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Feeding in pond snails has long been a model system for central pattern generation and its modulation. The pattern is generated by a small set of neurons in the buccal ganglia, which innervate the buccal mass, esophagus, and salivary glands. In this exercise, students observe feeding behavior and then record and quantify rhythmic motor activity and its response to feeding stimulants and neuromodulators. In a standard three-hour class period, students do a dissection, record from several nerves, and perform experimental manipulations such as adding feeding stimulants, serotonin, or dopamine to the preparation. Depending on the course goals, data can be presented qualitatively or cyclic measurements and spike-rate analysis can be done. This exercise leads to discussion of neural circuitry and intrinsic properties that support pattern generation for rhythmic activities such as feeding, locomotion, and respiration.</p>","PeriodicalId":74004,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience","volume":"20 3","pages":"A376-A386"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11256379/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The FUN Exchange: A Community-Driven Repository of Resources for Neuroscience Educators.","authors":"Claudia Jorgensen, Michael Wright","doi":"10.59390/IVWG3242","DOIUrl":"10.59390/IVWG3242","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, higher education was facing pressure both to modify traditional instruction practices to more learner-centered instruction and to meet the increased demand for flexible instruction (including hybrid and online). These pressures have increased the need for high quality, engaging content for instruction across all modalities (including in-person, hybrid, and online). To address this need of neuroscience educators, we developed the FUN Exchange, an online repository that is accessible to educators without a paid membership and that is endorsed by the Faculty of Undergraduate Neuroscience organization. Furthermore, the resource is community-driven, allowing educators to contribute and vet submissions to the Exchange. Hosted on AirTable, there are currently more than 475 resources available that are organized by resource type ranging from Class Activities to Simulation Exercises and that can be searched by subject area as well as key words. We believe the FUN Exchange can be a one-stop shop for educators interested in high-quality neuroscience teaching resources useful for all teaching modalities-in-person, hybrid, and online.</p>","PeriodicalId":74004,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience","volume":"20 3","pages":"A387-A390"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11256386/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rebecca J Gilbertson, Eric E Hessler, Dustyn J Leff
{"title":"Active Learning and Community Engagement: Pedagogical Synergy through the \"Mobile Neuroscience Lab\" Project.","authors":"Rebecca J Gilbertson, Eric E Hessler, Dustyn J Leff","doi":"10.59390/VUNA6753","DOIUrl":"10.59390/VUNA6753","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Mobile Neuroscience Lab is a project that facilitates combined pedagogical strategies of active learning and neuroscience outreach as a service learning component of a physiological psychology course. The overall project goals were to improve science knowledge, foster oral communication, and encourage positive science attitudes and beliefs. Of these goals, positive science attitudes and beliefs were assessed. During active learning, university students completed hands-on activities corresponding to the physiological psychology course. Following, during the neuroscience outreach activity (\"learning through teaching\"), university students and middle school students engaged in small group activities (one university student to five middle school students) using the same hands-on activities. Assessment of the perceived benefit of the active learning showed that university and middle school students responded favorably to the hands-on activities. Students' science attitudes were also assessed (Hillman et al., 2016) using a pre-test, post-test design. Data showed that the neuroscience activity did not change middle school science attitudes and beliefs (<i>p</i> > .05), possibly as the science attitudes and beliefs were already positive (moderate to high) prior to the outreach activity. However, qualitative data showed that the aspect of the neuroscience outreach activity that most assisted the middle school students in their learning was seeing the brain, touching the brain, and social interaction with the university students. Overall, the pedagogical strategies of active learning, and \"learning through teaching\", were received with enthusiasm by university and secondary education students. Future studies will include classroom teachers' assessment of these hands-on activities.</p>","PeriodicalId":74004,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience","volume":"20 3","pages":"A324-A331"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11256377/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alleyne P R Broomell, Mykenzi Allison, Gillian Jill D Ellern
{"title":"Feasibility and Utility of a Virtual Reality Laboratory Exercise in an Undergraduate Neuroscience Course.","authors":"Alleyne P R Broomell, Mykenzi Allison, Gillian Jill D Ellern","doi":"10.59390/ZYCY4696","DOIUrl":"10.59390/ZYCY4696","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To improve undergraduate students' understanding of neuroanatomy and structure, we leveraged existing virtual reality infrastructure to create a novel dissection assignment in an undergraduate neuroscience course. Students completed a virtual reality dissection of the central nervous system that augmented status quo instruction in lecture and textbook format. We found that such an assignment is feasible at a regional comprehensive university with intrauniversity partnerships that are mutually beneficial. Results showed positive engagement from students and feasibility of incorporating virtual reality in undergraduate neuroscience courses.</p>","PeriodicalId":74004,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience","volume":"20 3","pages":"A346-A352"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11256384/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}