3.4 Don’t Be Nervous

Check Your Guesses

How many bits of information does our brain take in every second?

Our brain takes in 11,000,000 (that's 11 million) bits of information every second.

Question 1

How many bits of information can our brain actively THINK ABOUT every second?

Our brain processes or makes sense of only 40-50 bits of information per second.

Our brains decide which information to pay attention to.

Question 2

A. Animal Games

Did you know that animals and people both have brains? Our brains work in similar ways. We get information through our senses, and our brains process that information so we know how to respond. Did you know that both animals and people can play video games? That’s right, people aren’t the only ones who enjoy gaming. 

Directions: Watch the two videos and answer these questions.

  1. How do animals play video games? What information do they respond to?  
  2. What is happening inside the brain while they play? What does it look like inside the brain? Does it remind you of anything you’ve seen before? If so, what? 

Outside the Brain
Animals Playing Video Games

Inside the Brain
Inside Animal Brains While Playing

B. Read: Inside Our Brain

You probably saw that animals followed the shapes on the screen. Their eyes saw the shape, and their bodies followed. Their brain saw the light and told their bodies to respond. You probably also saw the animal’s brain lighting up inside. If you thought it looked like electricity, you were right. Our brain sends electrical signals, let’s find out how….

Fact Finder: Now we’re going to read more about how our brain makes sense of information from our senses. As you read, write down any important information in the “Fact Finder” section of your Mission Log.

How does our brain make sense of information?

C. How Messages Travel

Now that you’ve learned how the nervous system works, use the interactive diagram below to explore the parts of our central nervous system. 

 

Think About It: What are the parts of the nervous system, and how do they work together?

D. Make A Model

Video games send millions of signals to our brains. We couldn’t play games without those signals. Now, you will draw a diagram to illustrate how our brains respond to the information in video games. You’ll use this information later in the project when you learn how designers choose which signals to give us. 

 

Directions: In your Mission Log, draw a diagram to show how our brain tells us to “press start” on a game controller when we see “press start” on the screen. Follow the directions in your Mission Log.  

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