App

Brain Tutor 3D

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

The human brain is staggeringly complex, and its structure can seem impossible to grasp. This user-friendly app allows for exploration of the brain's anatomy, providing nomenclature, 3-D mapping, and functions. 

11th - Higher Ed Science 21 Views 12 Downloads
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App Overview

The navigation of this reference tool is simple.

First, select from one of the four atlas types, or parts of the brain:

  • Lobes
  • Gyri
  • Sulci
  • Brodmann Areas

If these terms are unfamiliar, don't write this resource off quite yet.

Each of the four main categories leads to a subset of terms from which to choose. For example, if you choose Lobes, the following options appear:

  • Frontal
  • Occipital
  • Parietal
  • Temporal

At this point, you can view a 3-D MRI scan of all four areas, or select a specific lobe to get another subset of terms and images.

The app allows you to view selections from numerous perspectives and manipulate the image by rotation or slicing.

Viewpoints:

  • Right or left hemisphere
  • Sagittal slice
  • Axial slice
  • Coronal slice

Hundreds upon hundreds of terms and images make for a useful reference app.

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Instructional Ideas

Anatomy/physiology, and psychology classes could use this app to identify the parts of the brain and label them on a worksheet. They could be given a list of terms to define, or you could simply use it as a supplemental visual aid in your instruction.

Classroom Considerations

While this reference tool may be more suitable for advanced psychology or physiology students, it will engage high schoolers more than 2-D images in a textbook. One drawback is the resolution of images is not high, and it appears to have been designed more for a smartphone. 

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Thorough coverage
Cons
  • Unimpressive image quality