Name: ______________________________________________ Period: _________ Date: _____________
Muscle Labs
Part I:
Blinking Challenge
Objective: To determine if the muscles involved in blinking your eyes are voluntary or involuntary.
Procedures:
1) Blink your eyes three times and then stare at the picture of the
eye (to the right). Continue staring, while trying not to blink, for a
full 2 minutes. Count to yourself how many times you blink. Have
a partner time for two minutes. Record the number of blinks on
the data table.
2) Switch rolls with your partner, and repeat the above steps until
each person completes three trials.
Trial Number
Your # of blinks
Partner’s # of blinks
1
2
3
Average blinks
(mean)
Analysis Questions: Answer in complete sentences.
1) Why do you think some people need to blink more than others?
2) Are the muscles involved in blinking voluntary, involuntary, or both? Write a paragraph explaining
your reasoning in detail. Discuss the brain’s role in this process.
Part II:
Reaction Time Challenge
Objective: In this challenge, you will test the interactions between senses and the brain in order to find out
how patterns help the reaction time of an athlete.
Materials: Drop strip labeled with time increments
Procedures:
1)
Determine which partner will be the timer and which will be the racer to start. You will reverse positions so that you each
have a chance to time your individual reactions.
2)
Have the timer hold the drop strip from the top, letting it hang down in front of him or herself.
3)
The racer will then place one hand at the bottom of the drop strip, but not touching it. The racer’s thumb should be on one
side of the strip and the index finger on the other side, about one inch apart as though they are about to pinch the strip.
4)
The timer will drop the stick suddenly. The racer will try to pinch it as quickly as possible. Where the racer’s fingers grab the
strip will indicate how quickly the racer was able to react, from zero seconds to almost a quarter of a second.
5)
Have the racer do three trials. Record the results on the data table, and calculate the average (mean).
6)
Now have the timer give a steady countdown of “3-2-1-Go!” before dropping the strip. Do this three times and record results.
7)
The racer and the timer should now switch positions.
Data table:
Trial
Number
Time without countdown
(milliseconds)
Time with countdown
(milliseconds)
Partner’s time without
countdown (milliseconds)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Analysis Questions: Answer in complete sentences.
1) How did your average time (no countdown) compare with your partner’s average time (no countdown)?
2) Does the racer’s time change when given a countdown? Why?
3) Human brains are built to seek out patterns like the countdown. What other patterns occur in sports?
4) Why will an athlete get better at the sport once he or she gets used to recognizing and acting on the pattern?