A Spinal Circuitry Simulator as a Teaching Tool for Neuromuscular
Physiology.
Maw, Sean, Jim Frank and Glenn Greig.
Division of Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,
T6G 2S2, Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada,
N2L 3G1, Nanometrics Inc., Kanata, Ontario, Canada, K2K 2A1.
APStracts 2:0010S, 1995.
ABSTRACT
Many concepts in neuromuscular physiology can be difficult for instructors to
teach and for students to understand. The behaviours of various components in
neuromuscular systems do not always interact in obvious ways and the function
of hundreds of components can be very different from the function of just one
or two "representatives". In this paper, a simulator is presented that can
model both small and large spinal circuitry systems thus allowing students to
explore the dynamic functional implications of the static circuitry diagrams
that are common in many neuroscience textbooks. The simulator brings to life
many concepts in neuromuscular physiology and permits students to explore such
concepts without extensive supervision. The benefits and drawbacks of using
this kind of simulator in the classroom are discussed, based on initial field
tests with undergraduate and graduate students as well as input from the
literature. It was found that such a simulation can be very useful as a
teaching tool if it is used properly with the right audience.
Received 30 May 1995; accepted in final form 18 March 1996.
APS Manuscript Number S0013-5.
Article publication pending J. Neurophysiol.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 1 April 96