The Brain's Classroom
How Undergraduate Neuroscience Labs Are Shaping Future Scientists
Where Cutting-Edge Brain Science Meets Tomorrow's Neuroscientists
In the summer of 2014, as the world celebrated the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the brain's "GPS", another revolutionary development in neuroscience was taking shape at Ithaca College. While John O'Keefe, May-Britt Moser, and Edvard Moser were uncovering the sophisticated positioning system in our brains 5 , the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) was tackling an equally crucial challenge: how to train the next generation of scientists who would continue this groundbreaking work. At the 7th triennial FUN workshop, educators from across the nation gathered to confront a pressing issue: how to sustain and advance neuroscience programs amid growing enrollment pressures and constrained budgets 1 . This gathering would yield innovative teaching methods and laboratory exercises that continue to influence how neuroscience is taught today, putting advanced research tools directly into undergraduate students' hands.
The Mission: Democratizing Neuroscience Education
The 2014 FUN workshop, hosted by Jean Hardwick of Ithaca College and Bruce Johnson of Cornell University, carried the theme "Undergraduate Neuroscience Education: Challenges and Solutions in Creating and Sustaining Programs" 1 7 . Unlike typical academic conferences focused solely on research findings, this gathering addressed the fundamental infrastructure of neuroscience education—how to equip students with necessary skills and knowledge despite resource limitations.
Growing Enrollment
Addressing increased student interest in neuroscience programs nationwide.
Resource Innovation
Developing creative solutions for maintaining quality with limited budgets.
Educational Quality
Ensuring high-standard neuroscience training across institutions.
The workshop represented a response to the dramatic growth of neuroscience as a discipline. As enrollment pressures increased across institutions, educators shared strategies for maintaining educational quality while doing more with less. The approaches developed ranged from innovative classroom exercises to comprehensive program assessment methods, all designed to ensure that undergraduates could access high-quality neuroscience training regardless of their institution's size or resources 1 .
Inside the Laboratory: Breakthrough Exercises in Neuroscience Education
Optogenetics in Drosophila: Making Cutting-Edge Technology Accessible
One of the most innovative laboratory exercises presented was "Optogenetics in Drosophila for both behavioral and neurophysiological experiments" by Titlow, Johnson, and Pulver 1 . This exercise introduced undergraduates to optogenetics—a revolutionary technique that uses light to control neurons—which was simultaneously making waves in professional research labs worldwide 8 .
Methodology:
1. Genetic Engineering
Students worked with fruit flies (Drosophila) genetically modified to express channelrhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein, in specific neurons 1 .
2. Behavioral Observation
The first phase involved observing how light pulses directed at the flies could trigger specific behaviors through activation of targeted neural pathways.
3. Electrophysiological Recording
In more advanced exercises, students used electrodes to measure electrical activity from individual neurons in response to light stimulation, directly observing how optogenetic control influences neural firing 1 .
Optogenetics Laboratory Components and Learning Objectives
| Component | Technique | Learning Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic Preparation | Working with transgenic organisms | Understanding genetic basis of optogenetics |
| Behavioral Testing | Light stimulation & behavior tracking | Connecting neural activation to behavior |
| Electrophysiology | Neural recording with microelectrodes | Measuring direct neural responses to stimulation |
Zebrafish Development: Visualizing Nervous System Formation
Another notable exercise, led by Marra, Tobias, Cohen, Glover, and Weissman, used zebrafish as a model organism for student research projects 1 . Zebrafish embryos are transparent, allowing direct microscopic observation of developing nervous systems.
Methodology:
Embryo Preparation
Students obtained zebrafish embryos and maintained them in controlled environments.
Microscopy
Using standard laboratory microscopes, students observed and documented the development of the nervous system over time.
Experimental Manipulation
Some exercises involved exposing embryos to various chemical or environmental factors to observe effects on neural development 1 .
Wild Invertebrate Retinal Responses: Combining Ecology and Neurophysiology
Stowasser, Mohr, Buschbeck, and Vilinsky presented a laboratory that combined ecology with electrophysiology 1 . Rather than using standard lab animals, students collected local invertebrates and studied how their retinas responded to different light conditions.
Methodology:
- Field Collection: Students ventured into their local environment to collect various invertebrate species.
- Electroretinography: Using basic electrophysiology setups, students recorded electrical responses from the retinas of these invertebrates when exposed to different light stimuli.
- Comparative Analysis: Students compared responses across species, drawing connections between visual system adaptations and ecological niches 1 .
2014 FUN Workshop Laboratory Innovations
| Laboratory Exercise | Model Organism | Key Neuroscience Concept |
|---|---|---|
| Optogenetics | Drosophila fruit flies | Neural control of behavior |
| Developmental Neurobiology | Zebrafish | Nervous system development |
| Visual Systems | Wild-caught invertebrates | Neural adaptation to environment |
| Postural Reflexes | Humans | Sensorimotor integration |
The Scientist's Toolkit: Essential Research Reagents in Neuroscience
The laboratory exercises presented at the 2014 FUN workshop depended on various specialized research reagents and tools. These resources made complex neuroscience concepts tangible for undergraduate students.
| Reagent/Tool | Function | Educational Application |
|---|---|---|
| Channelrhodopsin | Light-sensitive protein for activating neurons | Optogenetics experiments in Drosophila 1 |
| Primary Human Neurons | Cells isolated from human brain tissue | Studying human neuronal function and connectivity 6 |
| D-AP5 | NMDA receptor antagonist blocking synaptic transmission | Studying learning and memory mechanisms 9 |
| Zebrafish embryos | Transparent model organism for development | Visualizing nervous system formation in real-time 1 |
| Electrophysiology setups | Equipment for measuring electrical neural activity | Recording from neurons in various organisms 1 |
Key Laboratory Techniques
Model Organisms
Research Reagents
Educators Impacted
Beyond the Laboratory: Comprehensive Neuroscience Education
The FUN workshop recognized that quality neuroscience education extends beyond laboratory skills. Sessions addressed:
Curriculum Development
Strategies for designing comprehensive neuroscience programs that integrate biology, psychology, chemistry, and mathematics 1 .
Faculty Development
Techniques for mentoring junior faculty and supporting their career progression in neuroscience education 1 .
Inclusive Teaching
Research presented by Whittaker, Montgomery and Acosta provided data-driven approaches to supporting minority faculty and creating inclusive learning environments 1 .
Program Assessment
Methods developed by Muir and others for evaluating program effectiveness and student learning outcomes in neuroscience 1 .
These sessions acknowledged that sustaining vibrant neuroscience programs required attention to institutional structures, faculty development, and assessment methodologies—not just laboratory resources.
Conclusion: Building the Neuroscience of Tomorrow
The 2014 FUN workshop at Ithaca College demonstrated that the future of neuroscience depends not only on flashy discoveries but on the foundational work of educating future generations. By developing accessible, hands-on laboratory exercises and addressing systemic challenges in neuroscience education, the participants created resources that continue to influence undergraduate programs nationwide.
The innovative approaches presented—from optogenetics in fruit flies to zebrafish development and wild invertebrate neuroecology—shared a common philosophy: that undergraduates learn neuroscience best by doing neuroscience. By putting research-grade tools and techniques into students' hands, these educators ensured that the thrill of discovery remained at the heart of neuroscience education.
As one participant noted, the workshop focused on both "the profession and the curriculum," recognizing that sustaining vibrant neuroscience programs requires attention to institutional structures and faculty development alongside laboratory innovation 1 . This comprehensive approach to neuroscience education continues to shape how we train the scientists who will unlock the brain's remaining mysteries—perhaps including future Nobel Laureates who might trace their inspiration to an undergraduate laboratory experience.