# Backyard Brains: Bringing Neurophysiology Into Secondary Schools

> **NIH NIH R44** · BACKYARD BRAINS, INC. · 2020 · $470,096

## Abstract

Project Summary
Deciphering how the brain functions remains one of the great challenges remaining to humanity, intriguing
scientific professionals and the public equally. The notorious complexity of the nervous system results in neural
diseases remaining widespread and difficult to treat. Tools for studying the brain are often difficult to use and
only available to graduate students and scientists in large research universities. Providing accessible
neuroscience research tools and educational equipment for high schools will accelerate neuroscience
innovation by exposing future scientists, engineers, and doctors to principles of nervous system function at
much earlier stages in their careers. Implementing electrophysiology and other neuroscience techniques into
K12 education has historically been difficult to the lack of affordable tools combined with compelling and
accessible learning materials.
To address this need, we are developing a neuroscience curriculum based on graduate­level neuroscience
research tools that can be used in the High School Classroom.
 1) The “SpikerBox”: a family of bio­amplifiers that are easy­to­use, inexpensive (<$100), portable, and can
 detect and record the action potentials of the nervous system of invertebrates, action potentials of
 human muscles (EMG), the electrical signature of the heart (EKG), and the electrical oscillations of the
 human brain (EEG).
 2) The “RoboRoach”: a wireless neural stimulator for investigating insect behavior.
 3) The “OptoStimmer”: a fully portable mobile phone based miniature microscope and electrophysiology
 apparatus enabling optogenetic experiments in fruit flies in high school classrooms.
 4) The “SpikerShield”: a human interface toolkit that allows students to connect their bodies’ electrical
 signals (from muscles, heart, eyes, and brain) into creative engineering team projects such as robotic
 grippers, computer mice, musical instruments, video game interfaces, and prosthetic models.
 5) A Comprehensive student neuroscience text and Teacher manual that focuses on problem­based
 instructional neuroscience units, with guidance for managing a problem­based classroom.
As neuroscience is a multi­disciplinary field encompassing biology, medicine, mathematics, and engineering,
the educational tools and materials to be developed here will improve learning in STEM­related disciplines and
inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and physicians.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9983344
- **Project number:** 3R44MH093334-08S1
- **Recipient organization:** BACKYARD BRAINS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Gregory John Gage
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $470,096
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-11-08 → 2020-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9983344

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9983344, Backyard Brains: Bringing Neurophysiology Into Secondary Schools (3R44MH093334-08S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9983344. Licensed CC0.

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