INTERNET RESEARCH ON THE BRAIN
Use this worksheet to research and discover more about the brain and nervous system on the "Neuroscience for
Kids" web pages. You will work to locate information, and record it in the spaces below.
To begin, start up your computers and load your web browsers (either NETSCAPE or EXPLORER will work). Go to
the NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS page at http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html.
Use the following questions to navigate through the pages. Record the information to the questions as you find it.
On the left side of the "Neuroscience For Kids" web site, click on "explore." This will bring you to a variety of
topics. Scroll down to the section on "Brain Basics" and click on "DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM."
Answer the following questions from the information there...
What are the two major subdivisions of the nervous system?
1. ______________________ nervous system
______________________ nervous system
2. What is another name for a "nerve cell"? ______________________
3. What two structures make up the central nervous system?
__________________
__________________
4. About how much does the brain weigh?__________________
5. About how many nerve cells are in the brain? _________________
Go to: "BRAIN FACTS AND FIGURES." Using the data on this page, answer the following questions:
6. What animal has the largest brain? _____________________________
7. What animal has the smallest brain?_____________________________
8. Does brain size correlate to intelligence? __________________
Go back to the "Explore" page,"DIVISIONS OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM." Scroll down to the
"HEAR IT" section. Play the words, AMYGDALA, CEREBELLUM, AND DIENCEPHALON. Continue scrolling down to the
section called "BRAIN STRUCTURES"
9. Where is the cerebral cortex located? ____________________________
10. What is a groove in the cortex called? _____________________________
11. What is a bump in the cortex called? ____________________________
12. What is one area of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning? _____________________
Go back to the explore page "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "OUR DIVIDED BRAIN: Lobes
of the Brain".
13. Explain in your words the function of each of the following parts of the brain. In addition, label all parts on
the diagrams provided. Make a MINI DIAGRAM on your paper J
I. Lobes of the brain:
Parietal Lobe
Occipital Lobe
Frontal Lobe
Temporal Lobe
14. What happened to Phineas Gage?_______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Go back to the explore page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "ONE BRAIN OR TWO?"
15. Name two functions that are dominant on the left brain side of the brain.
________________________
________________________
16. The right side of the brain?
________________________
________________________
17. What structure connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres?__________________________________
18. What is the procedure called when the above structure is cut or severed? _____________________________
18. What side of the brain controls language in most people?__________________________
19. List 5 famous left-handed folks
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Go back to the explore page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "HE BRAINS, SHE BRAINS."
20. Is the proportion of brain weight to body weight different for men and women? __________________
21. What happens to mens' brains as they age?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
22. What is the function of the suprachiasmatic nucleus? _____________________________
Go back to the explore page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "BRAIN DEVELOPMENT."
23. When does the nervous system begin to
form?_______________________________________________________________________________________
Go back to the explore page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "THE VENTRICLES AND
CSF."
24. What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?______________________________________________________________
25. Name 2 functions of CSF.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Go back to the explore page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "THE BRAIN DURING
SLEEP."
26. What instrument is used to measure brain activity?___________________________________
27. About how much of your life do you spend asleep?________________________
28. What does REM stand for?______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Go back to the page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on the colored words, "THE BRAIN VS.
THE COMPUTER."
29. Which sends signals faster, a brain or a computer?_____________________
Go back to the explore page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "WHAT BECAME OF
EINSTEIN'S BRAIN?"
30. When did Einstein die?_________________________________________
31. Who removed his brain?_________________________________________
32. Where is the brain now?____________________________________________
Go back to the explore page, "EXPLORE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Scroll down to the bottom of the page
where it says, "THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "ALCOHOL."
33. What kind of drug is alcohol?__________________
34. What term is given to drugs that kill brain cells?__________________
Go back to the page, "THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "CAFFEINE."
35. Which soft drink has the most caffeine per serving?__________________
36. What are two negative side effects of caffeine?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Go back to the page, "THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "COCAINE."
37. Is cocaine an addicting drug?__________________
38. What organ does it affect other than the brain? __________________
Go back to the page, "THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM." Click on "MARIJUANA."
Scroll down and click on the colored words, "MARIJUANA: FACTS FOR TEENS."
39. List two short-term effects of marijuana use:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
40. List two possible long-term effects of marijuana use:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
41. What effects may marijuana have on the babies of pregnant women who smoke marijuana?
____________________________________________________________________
42- 46. Go to:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/scanning/index.html
Briefly explain the following and provide at least one benefit for using each respective brain scan:
EEG ·
Benefit:
CAT ·
Benefit:
PET ·
Benefit:
MRI ·
Benefit:
fMRI- (for this one you can ‘Google it or look up in your book. This website doesn’t have much about the fMRI)
·
Benefit: