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
How do our neurons communicate with each other?
This lesson is intended to introduce students to the process of synaptic transmission, which is how one neuron communicates with another neuron. Using the pain pathway as a model circuit, this lesson covers how the electrical signal of the action potential is converted into a chemical signal at the nerve terminal.
| Objectives | – Students will be able to describe how neurons change the electrical signal of an action potential into a chemical signal at the synapse. – Students will be able to order the steps of synaptic transmission. |
| Activities | – Build pain pathway. -Order the steps of synaptic transmission. -Socratic discussion of synaptic transmission. |
| Materials | Printed Materials: – Lesson worksheet – Synaptic transmission cards |
| Homework | Worksheet: Does it matter which ions flow into the postsynaptic cell? |
Lesson 3
Why does applying pressure relieve pain?
This lesson introduces students to inhibitory synapses. To review synaptic transmission the students build a model of the pain pathway and act out synaptic transmission using this model. After the class has reviewed synaptic transmission, an inhibitory neuron is introduced into the model and students explore the effect on the activity of the pathway. Finally, the class engineers the neural pathway underlying why applying pressure reduces the amount of pain we feel.
| Objectives | -Students will be able to describe the flow of ions at an inhibitory synapse. – Students will be able to describe how inhibitory synapses change the membrane potential of the postsynaptic cell. |
| Activities | – Socratic discussion of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. -Student model of pain path-way, including excitatory and inhibitory synapses. |
| Materials | Printed Materials: – Activity worksheet Other Materials: – White and colored cotton balls |
| Homework | Work on unit project. |
Lesson 4
What causes different pain phenomena?
This lesson allows students to see how many of the neural principles previously discussed work together to create different pain phenomena, including why patients having a heart attack feel pain in their arms, and why amputees often feel pain that appears to be originating in their missing limb.
| Objectives | Students will be able to describe the neural origins of different pain phenomena like phantom limb pain. |
| Activities | – Jigsaw on pain phenomena – Students work in small groups to read about different pain phenomena and the neural mechanisms that underlie them. |
| Materials | Printed Materials: – Do Now worksheet – Jigsaw readings – Jigsaw worksheet |
| Homework | -Complete jigsaw table if not already completed in class. Study for quiz |
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.
