Download Animal Influence on Human Brains

THIS WEEK'S LESSON ACTIVITIES
INSTRUCTOR:
Linda Tubman
DATE: CLASS LEVEL: Advanced Basic Skills
Topic: Animal Influence on Human Brains
Lesson Objectives:
The students will:
1) Describe some of the chemicals produced by the brain and how they affect moods.
2) Compare animals used in therapy
3) Create an informational brochure about the benefits of using animals for therapy.
CCR Standards Aligned to this Lesson:
RI.4.3, RI.5.4, SL.5.1, W.4.2, W.5.4, L.4.2, L.5.2, L.4.4, L.5.4, L.4.6, L.5.6
Reading: to include text dependent questions and reading strategies as needed, such as vocabulary, grammar,
spelling, phonics, sentence structure along with writing and listening/speaking activities throughout the unit.
Reading: “Animal Influence” by Chris Hayhurst on readworks.org, a handout on “The
Happy Brain Chemicals”, and an outline of “Pet Partners Program Pet Team
Evaluation”.
Vocabulary: psychologist, physiological, cortisol, neurotransmitter, serotonin, autistic,
cerebral palsy, endorphin, tryptophan
Text dependent questions:
Evidence based answers:
What are the 2 types of messengers in the brain
Happy and sad messengers
described in the article “The Happy Brain Chemicals”?
(Biogenic Amine/Endorphin
System) (paragraph 2)
When do problems arise in this system?
Stress and depression can
create an imbalance in the
body. (paragraph 3)
What is a neurotransmitter?
A chemical in the body that
helps transmit nerve
impulses. (paragraph 8)
What are 3 neurotransmitters mentioned?
Dopamine, serotonin, and
norepinephrine (paragraph
8)
What does serotonin do in the body?
It helps with sleep, calms
anxiety, and relieves
depression. (paragraph 8)
What do antidepressant drugs target?
Regulating the release of
serotonin. (paragraph 9)
Would you support the use of antidepressant
Yes, 80% of people are
medications? Cite information from the text to explain
helped by them. Controlled
your point of view.
depression can help other
health problem such as
heart disease and high
Besides stress, what other conditions are cited in
“Animal Influence” as sources of possible imbalance?
What types of animals can be used for therapy?
Describe two types of animals discussed in the article.
What physiological effect do therapy animals have on
the body?
From the handout “Pet Partners Program Pet Team
Evaluation”, name 2 different expectations between
small and large animals.
cholesterol.
No, 20% of patients get no
help from the medications.
There are sometimes
serious side effects.
(paragraph 9)
Children with special needs
and hospital patients.
(paragraph 8)
It doesn’t matter- if the
animal can show affection,
the results are the same.
(paragraph 10)
Dogs used in school and
hospital settings, and
horses used with special
needs children.
(paragraphs 6 and 11)
Reduced heart rate,
reduced levels of the stress
related hormone cortisol,
and an increase in
serotonin. (paragraph 10)
Small animals should be
able to be passed to at least
3 people and be able to sit
on laps. (ex. 8-10)
Answers will vary.
Which assessment would be the hardest to master?
Why do you think so?
Day 1: Students will read “The Happy Brain Chemicals” with a partner, noting unfamiliar
terms as they go along. In groups of 4, students will re-read the text, discussing the
word they were not familiar with. Then they will talk about the first 7 text dependent
questions. We will regroup as a class to discuss them. (1.5 hrs.)
Day2: In small groups, students will read “Animal Influence” and answer the next 4 text
dependent questions. Students will write a paragraph on other animals that they think
would be good choices for service animals. They will share their ideas in small groups.
(2 hrs.)
Day 3: We will have a discussion of personal pets, service animals, and local
organizations that the students might know of that train therapy animals. We will go
over the training guide from the Pet Partners program examining the qualities they’re
looking for in service animals and discuss the last text dependent questions. (1.5)
Day4: As a class, we will discuss brochures used to advertise services. What
audience are you trying to reach? Students will create a brochure telling about the
benefits of therapy animals, including terminology learned and give examples. (2 hrs.)
Day 5: Students will share their brochures in small groups. The others in the group will
see if they can tell the intended audience. (1.5 hrs.)
Language: Latin roots used in medical terms, functions of hormones and the brain.
How I will scaffold my lessons to reach all of my students' levels:
The students will have group discussions while reading to clarify the information. We
will discuss the chart from Pet Partners about qualities in animals that would make them
good therapy animals.
How I will assess my students' mastery of the lessons:
Students will create an informational brochure explaining the benefits of animal therapy.
They will include the medical terminology learned, and give examples.
My reflections of the lessons (what worked, what didn't, what I might change for
next time):
THE HAPPY BRAIN CHEMICALS
In the spring of 1977, tools had been discovered that were enabling scientists to
penetrate the very interior of single nerve cells in the brain. Important discoveries
were being made almost daily about the inner workings of the brain. We now know
that vital chemicals carry messages between brain cells. In essence, they allow brain
cells to "talk to" one another.
On a typical day in the brain, trillions of messages are sent and received. The
messages that are happy, upbeat messages are carried by the brain's "HAPPY
MESSENGERS" (technically known as Biogenic Amine/Endorphin System). Other
messages are somber and quieting. They are carried by the brain's "SAD
MESSENGERS". Most nerve centers receive input from both types of messengers. As
long as this input is balanced, everything runs along on an even keel.
Stress, however, causes problems with the brain's Happy Messengers. When life is
smooth, the happy messages keep up with demand. But when too much stress is
placed on the brain, the Happy Messengers begin to fall behind on their deliveries. As
the stress continues, the happy messages begin to fail. Important nerve centers then
receive mostly SAD MESSAGES, and the whole brain becomes depressed. The
person enters a state of brain chemical imbalance.
Enter Serotonin: The chemistry of Well-Being.
Serotonin, must work properly in order for you to sleep well.
Serotonin is responsible for making sure that your body's
physiology is set for sleeping. If Serotonin does not do its job
properly, you will not be able to obtain a restful sleep, no matter
how hard you try.
More than 100,000 chemical reactions go on in your brain every second!
The brain is also a radio transmitter, which sends out measurable electrical wave
signals. In fact the brain continues to send out these signals many hours after death!
Among the brain's many jobs is to be your own chemist. The brain produces more
than 50 identified active drugs. Some of these are associated with memory, others
with intelligence, still others are sedatives.
Endorphin is the brain's painkiller, and it is 3 times more potent than morphine.
Scientific research over the last several decades has led to the revolutionary discovery
of opiate-like chemicals in the body that associate with opiate specific receptors in the
brain and spinal cord, including Serotonin, a hormone manufactured by your brain.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, involved in the transmission of nerve impulses.
The Bt9 Produces amazing Brain Chemicals
Look Here
It is manufactured in your body using the amino acid tryptophan. Release of serotonin
or other drugs (depending on the type of nerve) causes the other nerve to fire and
continue the message along the "cable"... The neurotransmitters are dopamine,
serotonin, and epinephrine. At the neurochemical and physiological level,
neurotransmitters are extremely important, since they carry impulses between nerve
cells. The substance that processes the neurotransmitter called serotonin is the amino
acid tryptophan. It increases the amount of serotonin made by the brain. Certain
aminos cause you to have better feeling of well being. Serotonin is a chemical that
helps maintain a "happy feeling," and seems to help keep our moods under control by
helping with sleep, calming anxiety, and relieving depression.
The brain also makes Dopamine, which makes people more talkative and excitable. It
affects brain processes that control movement, emotional response, and ability to
experience pleasure and pain. All of these chemicals are natural chemicals that affect
our bodily processes. Besides being involved in the process of addiction, low
Serotonin levels are believed to be the reason for many cases of mild to moderate
depression which can lead to symptoms like anxiety, apathy, fear, feelings of
worthlessness, insomnia and fatigue. We are learning that depression is related to and
a number of other health issues. Depression is the nation's most prevalent mental
health problem, affecting about 15 million Americans who spend about $3 billion a
year on drugs to battle it. Almost all of these medicines target either serotonin or
epinephrine, brain chemicals which are neurotransmitters. "Research over the past two
decades has shown...that depression is an important risk factor for heart disease along
with high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure." - National Institute of Mental
Health. A whole new class of antidepressant medications has been developed that
affects chemical messengers within the brain (the neurotransmitters). These
medications are believed to work by regulating the release or action of Serotonin.
Those drugs do help many patients, but they can cause serious side effects, and some
20 percent of patients get no help from today's medicines.