Information Processing & the Nervous System Interactive Simulation | Life Science | Grades 6–8

This Interactive Simulation has grades 6–8 Middle School Life Science students run a hands-on classroom model of Information Processing & the Nervous System.

Driving question: "How do different sensory receptors (visual, auditory, tactile) and cognitive distractions affect the speed of human information processing, and how does touch receptor density vary across the body?" Objective: Students will measure and calculate human reaction times across visual, auditory, tactile, and distracted stimulus pathways, map skin mechanoreceptor density using two-point discrimination, and model the complete neuron pathway from stimulus to effector.

What's inside: objective and background, a materials list (Metric ruler or meterstick (marked in…; Reaction Time Conversion Chart…; Plastic metric calipers or dual-point…; Blindfold or sleep mask (for isolating…), an 8-step protocol, a data table, 4 analysis questions, and teacher notes.

Resource type: Interactive Simulation (.docx). Format: editable Microsoft Word lab handout with approximately 940 words (~5 pages).

Classroom use: a team investigation in a Middle School Life Science course. Grades 6–8.

Format note: These files are delivered in Microsoft Office formats (Word and/or PowerPoint). If you open a worksheet that includes tables in Apple Pages or another non-Microsoft app, table formatting may not display correctly. For best results, use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (or upload the file to Google Docs). If you run into any formatting issues, contact us and we can send a PDF version.