![]() ![]() We selected this experiment because it allows students to Kazar and Elrod ( 11) emphasize the need for interdisciplinary training for students to be successful in future STEM careers. In addition to introducing students to the principles of action potentials, our experiment advances the learning of these mechanical procedures with computational analysis. Undergraduates studying neuroscience traditionally spend a significant amount of time learning the biological preparation (cockroach handling, dissections) in which to perform electrophysiological experiments and often use analysis software as “black boxes” to analyze the signals that are generated. Mathematically and in neuroscience, spike sorting is the grouping of spikes and the individual neurons that produced them into clusters based on their shapes. The spike shape received from an individual neuron is determined by the unique morphology of the neuron’s dendritic tree as well the spatial distance and geometric orientation to the recording electrode ( 10). Electrodes record signals from many neurons close to the electrode tip that fire action potentials or spikes. ( 9) used the SpikerBox to study the response of the descending contralateral movement detector neuron in a grasshopper’s neck to visual stimuli.Īn important component of neuroscience research requires isolating the activity of individual neurons with extracellular electrodes. ( 8) used it to study electrophysiological signals when stimulating the cerci or isolated legs of crickets. Other authors have also used the SpikerBox for example, Dagda et al. The SpikerBox is produced by Backyard Brains ( ). ![]() Teaching neurophysiology in a laboratory setting can be done inexpensively with the SpikerBox apparatus ( 7), which we used to record sensory action potentials with extracellular pin electrodes. ![]() When it comes to electrophysiology, the cockroach is very suitable since it is incredibly resilient and its legs can be studied for hours after detachment from the thorax ( 4). dubia (orange-spotted cockroach) and Gromphadorhina portentosa (hissing cockroach) as our experimental organisms to study sensory electrophysiology. ( 6) developed biological preparations using the common American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, for teaching undergraduate neurophysiology. Linder and Palka ( 4) discuss an inexpensive apparatus for recording action potentials in cockroaches. Other authors have used earthworms ( 3) and crustaceans ( 2) to teach principles of neuronal excitability and synaptic communication in the student laboratory. Although invertebrates have a smaller number of identifiable neurons, the neurons can remain viable for long periods ( 2). Neuroscience programs often require expensive equipment and institutional research clearance for protocols when vertebrate organisms are used. ( 1) note that underrepresented students learn better when a “high-quality” active component of a class is used. One component of a course involving the study of how sensory information is encoded by the firing rate of action potentials (rate coding) led to the development of a project where cockroaches (mostly Blaptica dubia) were used to conduct low-cost neurophysiological experiments. Despite limited resources, we have created courses to introduce students to neuroscience and in particular neurophysiology, which is typically inaccessible at institutions like NNMC because of cost. Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) is a small rural college with a 71% Hispanic and 10% Native American population. ![]()
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