The following lessons about neuroscience have been inspired by the book, “The Zombie Autopsies”,
written by Steven C. Schlozman, M.D., and are intended to compliment it. “The Zombie Autopsies” was
inspired by George Romero’s 1968 cult-classic horror film “Night of the Living Dead”.
These original lessons build upon each other and have an accompanying plot line where the world is
fighting a zombie apocalypse and the best and the brightest young people are being trained as medical
students- with a specialty in neuroscience- with the hopes that they will be able to provide a cure to this
terrible epidemic and save humanity. For a richer experience have the students read the book in class
and as homework (see suggested reading schedule) along with the class activities. Although the
materials are organized as a unit, lessons can be used as stand-alone or can be shaped to fit the needs of
you and your students regarding time and content. For example, Lesson 3 is perfect for the day of
Halloween.
Over the course of this unit students will learn about the following:

Lesson Plan 1: You’ll be Wishin’ for some Neurotransmission (neurons and
neurotransmission)

Lesson Plan 2: The Neuroanatomy of a Zombie (neurotransmitters, neurotransmission and
neuroanatomy )

Lesson Plan 3: Super Spooky Psychiatric Medicine to Save the World (medications

development, neurotransmitters, neurotransmission)
Lesson Plan 4 : Publish or Perish…for Real (how to write an academic journal article)
Special Note to Teachers: The content of the following lesson plans compares the “normal” brain to a
“zombie” brain. Zombies are not real but there are plenty of diseases that effect real people and
students may have people in their lives who have suffered because of them.
Suggested Reading Guide
Homework before Lesson 1- read pages 1-31
Lesson 1
Homework before Lesson 2 – read pages 32-67
Lesson 2
Homework before Lesson 3- read pages 68-104
Lesson 3
Homework before Lesson 4- read pages 105-137
Lesson 4
Read in class or for homework – pages 147-162