SpikerBox Neuroscience Commercial

Hello, we're Backyard Brains!

The introduction to Backyard Brains and their mission to accelerate neuroscience innovation and education.

Backyard Brains' Mission

• Backyard Brains aims to accelerate neuroscience innovation and education.

• They offer tools and resources for studying neurons in various settings, such as trains, planes, and even with your grandma.

• Their goal is to make neuroscience accessible to everyone, including those who may not have access to traditional institutions.

Introducing the SpikerBox

An introduction to the open-sourced SpikerBox and its use for recording from the nervous system of insects.

The SpikerBox

• The SpikerBox is an open-sourced device that allows inexpensive recording from the nervous system of insects.

• It is designed to improve neuroscience education and make it accessible even in basement workshops.

• The device can be used for experiments involving live insects, such as cockroaches.

• Electrodes are placed on specific parts of the insect's leg, allowing for recording of neural activity.

• The SpikerBox can be connected to an iPhone application for viewing and sharing recorded spiking activity.

Using the SpikerBox

Instructions on how to use the SpikerBox for recording neural activity from a cockroach leg.

Using the SpikerBox

• Start by preparing a cockroach by placing it in ice water anesthesia until it stops moving.

• Carefully cut off one of its legs (which can grow back).

• Attach electrodes from the SpikerBox: one as a ground electrode in the coxa and another as a recording electrode in the femur.

• Turn on the SpikerBox and listen for popping sounds, which indicate spontaneous discharge rate of living neurons in the leg.

Observing Neural Activity

Observations of neural activity in the cockroach leg using the SpikerBox.

Neural Activity

• The popping sounds from the SpikerBox increase when touching the barbs on the leg, indicating increased spiking or neural activity.

• This observation suggests a relationship between physical stimulation and neural firing.

Additional Tools and Experiments

Introduction to additional tools and experiments offered by Backyard Brains for neuroscience education.

Additional Tools and Experiments

• Backyard Brains offers an iPhone application for interfacing with the SpikerBox, allowing users to view and record spiking activity.

• A lab manual is available to teach basic principles of neuroscience through fun experiments, such as stimulating neurons and muscles to music.

• Temperature's effect on neurons can be explored by observing neural activity in a cockroach leg as it is exposed to cold temperatures.

• Backyard Brains also provides a bag-of-parts for building a SpikerBox yourself, offering an opportunity to learn about analog electronics.

Conclusion

Examples of successful use of the SpikerBox by students and its compatibility with other organisms.

Success Stories

• Eighth graders and high school freshmen have successfully built their own SpikerBoxes.

• The SpikerBox works not only on cricket cercal systems but also on medicinal leeches.

• Some adventurous users have even found that it works with human EMGs.

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