As an educator I believe in the importance of an experiential undergraduate education in order to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to broadly position them for success following graduation. A key component of this goal is providing materials and opportunities that are accessible, equitable, and engaging for all students. A well-rounded neuroscience education should span theoretical to applied components, allow for hands-on exploration of neural tissue and model systems, provide opportunities for scientific writing and science communication, and to engage in conversation about how intersectionality and current events influence scientific inquiry.

Here, I share resources that I have created (in some cases with inspiration from materials from other psychology/neuroscience educators to whom I am deeply grateful) for my psychology and neuroscience courses. I hope that these resources prove useful for other educators, particularly as we navigate the current virtual learning environment during the pandemic. If you have any questions about any of these materials, please get in touch! Feel free to adapt these educational materials as you see fit and with credit where appropriate. Enjoy!

Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience:
Affective Neuroscience

Course Description: A laboratory course that exposes students to modern techniques in neuroscience that can be applied to the study of affective behavior, broadly. Underlying concepts associated with various behavioral, molecular, neuroanatomical, pharmacological, and translational methods will be discussed in a lecture format. Students will apply these concepts and techniques in discussions and laboratory preparations demonstrating how affective processes are organized within the central nervous system of vertebrates. This course will explore using experimental examples how the brain influences behavior, thereby illuminating our understanding of human neuropsychological functioning.

Click on the following links to download PDF versions of materials for labs that were facilitated by sending lab kits (via USPS) to students:

• Course Syllabus

• Lab 1- Sheep Brain Dissection: Students were sent an at-home sheep brain dissection kit (Carolina Biological) and provided with this lab packet to supplement the synchronous guided dissection. The lab packet also included instructions and a rubric for completing their dissection lab report. This packet contains some information/content adapted from the following sources: Dr. Krantz Sheep Brain Dissection Guide
  *note: labeling error on page 6 of packet - in top diagram there is a label of “Hippocampus (within ventricle)” the arrow should be pointing to the ventricular space, as where the arrow is now is on the Caudate.

• Lab 3 Part 1: Students were sent at-home rat brain mounting kits to facilitate a remote synchronous bench experience.