# Introducing Neuroscience and Neurocomputation Concepts to High School Students using Brain-based Neurorobots

> **NIH NIH R44** · BACKYARD BRAINS, INC. · 2022 · $928,237

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Understanding the brain is a profound and fascinating challenge, captivating the scientific community and the
public alike. The lack of effective treatment for most brain disorders makes training the next generation of
neuroscientists, engineers and physicians a key concern. However, much neuroscience is perceived to be too
difficult to be taught in school. To make neuroscience accessible and engaging to students and teachers,
Backyard Brains is developing SpikerBots: fun and affordable robots that look like brains and are controlled by
computer simulations of biological brains. The SpikerBots and associated software and curriculum require no
background in neuroscience or programming, and allow students to investigate meaningful questions about
mind, brain and behavior by designing artificial brains that make the robots’ behavior life-like, sensory-guided
and goal-directed. These brain design exercises engage students in active, project-based learning, which has
been shown to improve STEM outcomes, especially among disadvantaged students. In Phase I, we showed
that SpikerBots with camera-eyes, microphone-ears, speakers, 2-wheel drive and WiFi, controlled by spiking
neural networks simulated on laptops, enabled 295 high school students participating in a 1-week workshop to
learn neuroscience concepts, solve brain design challenges, and develop self-confidence in neuroscience. In
Phase II, we will (1) develop production-ready SpikerBot hardware that reduces costs and improves durability,
(2) design a cloud-based application for cross-platform functionality on low-cost laptops, and (3) develop a
curriculum and set of teacher onboarding materials, including recurring teacher workshops, held at 3 science
museums, on employing inquiry-based learning to teach effectively using the SpikerBot. Education researchers
at Purdue University will continue to conduct evaluation of students’ and teachers’ experiences and learning
gains. We intend to sell our neurorobots directly to customers, and through our education channel partners at a
price of $150 per robot. While the SpikerBot is designed for secondary education, primary and higher
education sectors as well as individuals and families can also benefit from the technology. Our long-term aim is
to encourage education policy makers to adopt more neuroscience science standards by demonstrating an
effective neuroscience curriculum organized around biological and computational concepts that embrace the
philosophy of the Next Generation Science Standards. By combining neuroscience, a multidisciplinary field that
spans biology, medicine, psychology, mathematics, and engineering, with robotics and active, project-based
learning, our SpikerBot and curriculum will improve STEM-education and inspire the next generation of
scientists, engineers and physicians.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10385012
- **Project number:** 2R44NS108850-03A1
- **Recipient organization:** BACKYARD BRAINS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Gregory John Gage
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $928,237
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10385012

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10385012, Introducing Neuroscience and Neurocomputation Concepts to High School Students using Brain-based Neurorobots (2R44NS108850-03A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10385012. Licensed CC0.

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