Neurological Disorders: Unit 3

How do our neurons communicate with each other?

This unit investigates how neurons are able to communicate with each other to send electrical signals from one part of the brain to another. As an example everyone can relate to, the students begin this unit by exploring how many different factors can influence our perception of pain. The unit then dives into the how’s and why’s of pain perception and how different parts of the brain can collaborate together by exciting and inhibiting each other.

Lesson 1

Why do we all experience different levels of pain?

This lesson is intended to engage students with the idea that our perceptions of pain are influenced by many different factors, including our expectations and mood, and not just the painful sensation itself. Through the discussion of different modulators of pain, students will be introduced to the idea that our many neuronal connections can influence each other and our perceptions of pain.

Objectives – Students will be able to describe how our bodies are able to modulate our perception of pain.
– Students will be able to give examples of how expectations and mood modulate the pain pathway.
Activities -Socratic discussion of pain.
-Three short videos of pain modulation.
Materials Printed Materials:
– Do Now worksheet
– HW worksheet: Sleep Journal
Homework Sleep Journal

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Teacher Prep: Unit 3 Lesson Overview Videos

In the YouTube embed below, click the order listing in the upper right to toggle the display for the full playlist.