Go to my neuroscience wiki page on drugs located here:
http://www.docfleetwood.net/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Drugs
Complete the “lesson” links to learn how a neuron works, what happens at the synapse and how drugs affect this. As an added bonuse, the “Mouse Party” activity is pretty funny 
Read pages 362-390 and answer the following chapter review questions…
1,3,5,6,10,11,13,15-21, CA #1
There will be a test on the peripheral nervous system. This includes information from the assigned textbook readings as well as notes in class. Topics include, but are not limited to, dermatomes, cranial nerves, eyes/vision, ears/hearing, taste and smell.
http://www.grand-illusions.com/opticalillusions/ – Visit this site to view various ways to fool your eyes. Definitely try “An Intriguing After Image” on ‘page 2′.
http://www.toledo-bend.com/colorblind/Ishihara.asp – Visit this site to take a test for color blindness. (Ishihara Test)
http://cim.ucdavis.edu/EyeRelease/Interface/TopFrame.htm – Visit this site to practice with the “Eye Simulator” version 2. Take notes on how damage to different muscles or nerves affects the movement abilities of the eye. You will need to click on “Eye Movement Simulator” You can also feel free to explore the pupil response simulator and the patient cases. This site is very cool.
There will be a test on the brain and spinal cord on Friday, 12/11/09. The test will include information you were assigned to read in the book and may also include information from earlier in the year.
A recent scientific study has found that cardiovascular fitness is associated with overall intelligence and academic achievement. Yet another reason why children should get exercise everyday, such as phys. ed. class in school. Read more, or listen to the podcast, here:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=fitness-linked-to-smartness-09-12-02
Complete the following in your textbook..
When we learn something new the neurons in our brains form new connections to one another. The stronger these connections, the more lasting the memory. Scientists have recently discovered that these connections form faster than previously thought. Read about this process and their findings here: Science Daily
Use the following link to be able to watch the assigned lectures from the HHMI Holiday Lecture Series videos online. For this assignment, you should choose the 2008 Neuroscience program and watch lectures 2 and 3. Of course, should you desire, you can certainly watch any other lectures on the various topics – there is some great information in these videos!
Scientists have found the genetic underpinnings of the need for rest intervals between learning sessions of the same material. It is a well known phenomenon that the brain needs to have a rest period between studying the same material in order to remember it better but no one knew the biological reason or control mechanism for this – until now. Checkout this press release from CSHL and learn something about how we remember things and how we might be able to help people with memory disorders.
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