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The Spinal Cord01:54

The Spinal Cord

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The spinal cord is the body’s major nerve tract of the central nervous system, communicating afferent sensory information from the periphery to the brain and efferent motor information from the brain to the body. The human spinal cord extends from the hole at the base of the skull, or foramen magnum, to the level of the first or second lumbar vertebra.
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The Spine Lab: A Short-Duration, Fully-Remote Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience.

Robert J Wickham1, Elizabeth A Genné-Bacon2, Michele H Jacob3

  • 1Psychology Department, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA 17022.

Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education : JUNE : a Publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
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PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A new online course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) called the Spine Lab allows students to study synaptic spines in mouse brains. This short, online CURE improves student learning and STEM identity, offering benefits comparable to traditional CUREs.

Keywords:
CTNNB1CUREremote-learningβ-catenin

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) offer authentic lab work but are often long, in-person, and costly.
  • Online and short-duration CUREs are needed to increase accessibility for students and institutions.
  • Synaptic spines are crucial for brain information processing, and their dysfunction is linked to human disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate a short-duration, fully-online CURE focused on synaptic spine analysis in mammalian brains.
  • To investigate changes in cortical neuron spine density and morphology in a mouse model with learning impairments (forebrain-specific β-catenin knockouts).
  • To assess the impact of this online CURE on student learning, STEM identity, and attitudes toward science.

Main Methods:

  • Students analyzed cortical neuron spine density and morphology in β-catenin knockout (β-cat cKO) and control mice.
  • Data analysis was conducted collaboratively by students in pairs and as a class.
  • Student learning and STEM identity were assessed using pre- and post-tests, including content quizzes and surveys.

Main Results:

  • The β-cat cKO mice exhibited significantly reduced spine density compared to controls.
  • Spine structural maturation was not altered in the β-cat cKO mice.
  • Participation in the online CURE led to improved content knowledge and STEM identity scores.

Conclusions:

  • Short-duration, fully-online CUREs like the Spine Lab can effectively provide authentic research experiences.
  • This online CURE demonstrates comparable benefits to traditional CUREs, enhancing student outcomes.
  • The Spine Lab offers an inclusive approach to CUREs, potentially broadening access to undergraduate research.