{"id":22411,"date":"2024-12-06T15:24:45","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T23:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=22411"},"modified":"2024-12-06T16:03:30","modified_gmt":"2024-12-07T00:03:30","slug":"elementary-school-students-learn-neurobiology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/elementary-school-students-learn-neurobiology\/","title":{"rendered":"Neurons, songbirds and candy-coated science: Young minds explore neurobiology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                          \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n  \n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=science-and-technology\">Science and Technology<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Neurons, songbirds and candy-coated science: Young minds explore neurobiology<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Elementary school students, guided by USC scholars, find learning about the nervous system is music to their brains.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Dieuwertje \u201cDJ\u201d Kast<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">December 6, 2024<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div 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0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Fourth- and fifth-grade students near USC\u2019s University Park Campus recently had the unusual opportunity to dive into neurobiology through a series of hands-on lessons inspired by research at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.<\/p>\n<p>Professor of Biological Sciences and Psychology <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/sarah-bottjer\/\">Sarah Bottjer<\/a>, whose research on neural anatomy and vocal learning in songbirds inspired the lessons, led young students at <a href=\"https:\/\/vermontavees.lausd.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vermont Avenue Elementary School<\/a> through a series of activities, aided by staff from the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/\">Joint Educational Project<\/a> based at USC Dornsife.<\/p>\n<p>After a brief presentation of <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/bottjerlab\/\">Bottjer\u2019s research<\/a>, students formed small groups to explore brain anatomy, neuron signaling and how songbirds learn to sing. The workshop combined music, art and science to make complex topics understandable and memorable, enabling the students to spend some time the shoes of neuroscientists.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-Bottjer_1200x900.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22412\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-Bottjer_1200x900.jpg\" alt=\"Students sit at a table with M&amp;M candies on paper as an instructor points at an image on a laptop screen\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-Bottjer_1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-Bottjer_1200x900-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-Bottjer_1200x900-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-Bottjer_1200x900-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Candy-coated Ions:<\/strong> USC Dornsife neuroscientist Sarah Bottjer taught students about concentration gradients using M&amp;M candies. The colorfully coated chocolates, which represented ions that are key to communication between neurons, enabled the students to see how neurons relay electrical signals to muscles. (Photo: Kathrin Rising.)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-arm_1200x900.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22413\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-arm_1200x900.jpg\" alt=\"Students at a table look at another student\u2019s arm with electrodes on it\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-arm_1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-arm_1200x900-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-arm_1200x900-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-arm_1200x900-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Electrical Connection: <\/strong>Students saw how the brain sends signals to muscles using a device called a Human-to-Human Interface (HHI). The HHI detects brain signals from one student and carries them to another. One student moved her arm with electrodes attached, and the HHI sent a neural signal to electrodes taped to another student\u2019s arm causing it to move. (Photo: Kathrin Rising.)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tracer_980x1308.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22429\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tracer_980x1308.jpg\" alt=\"A young student works with a model brain and tubing in a foil tray as other students watch\" width=\"980\" height=\"1307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tracer_980x1308.jpg 980w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tracer_980x1308-412x550.jpg 412w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tracer_980x1308-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Follow the Glow:<\/strong> Students explored how scientists use fluorescent and protein tracers to map neuron pathways in the brain. Using a laminated paper brain, tubing and syringes filled with food coloring, students simulated the movement of a fluorescent tracer. (Photo: Dieuwertje Kast.)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-brain_1200x900.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22415\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-brain_1200x900.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a child\u2019s hands using a plastic knife to cut a small model brain made of blue Play-Doh \" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-brain_1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-brain_1200x900-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-brain_1200x900-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-brain_1200x900-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Think Thin: <\/strong>Students simulated a cryostat \u2014 an apparatus for taking very thin slices of deeply frozen tissue \u2014 by cutting a Play-Doh brain into 1-millimeter slices. (Photo: Dieuwertje Kast.)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tissue_1200x574.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22416\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tissue_1200x574.jpg\" alt=\"Composite: A college student and 4th-grader look at brain tissue with a microscope, left, and a young girl with a worksheet, right \" width=\"1200\" height=\"574\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tissue_1200x574.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tissue_1200x574-500x239.jpg 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tissue_1200x574-1024x490.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-tissue_1200x574-768x367.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Seeing Is Believing: <\/strong>At left, USC Dornsife biological sciences major Keira Zoleta of JEP\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/stem-education-programs\/\">STEM Education Programs<\/a> showed a young student a real brain slice using a microscope. At right, a student learned how antibody staining works in the brain by using invisible ink to label different proteins on a worksheet. (Photos: Kathrin Rising and Dieuwertje Kast.)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-song_1200x900.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22417\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-song_1200x900.jpg\" alt=\"A young student whispers into another young student\u2019s ear\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-song_1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-song_1200x900-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-song_1200x900-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/JEP-Neurobiology-song_1200x900-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tuning Into Learning:<\/strong> Using familiar tunes like \u201cTwinkle, Twinkle, Little Star\u201d and \u201cHappy Birthday to You,\u201d students learned how young songbirds raised by different &#8220;foster parents&#8221; learn the foster parents\u2019 songs. This experiment, a highlight for many of the students, demonstrated that behavior can be learned rather than innate. (Photo: Kathrin Rising.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Articles\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/yoga-and-mindfulness-are-focus-of-little-yoginis-program\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >How USC Dornsife pioneered wellness for inner-city grade school kids<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a 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brains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":22412,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,24],"tags":[63,134,106],"class_list":["post-22411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science-and-technology","category-social-impact","tag-community-engagement","tag-joint-educational-project","tag-neuroscience"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Neurons, songbirds and candy-coated science: Young minds explore neurobiology<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fourth- and fifth-graders near USC, guided by USC Dornsife scholars, find learning about the nervous system is music to their brains\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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