======Nerve Speed Relay======


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**Alternative titles:** Nerve Transmission Test
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Arrange a group of participants standing side by side in a line or sitting in chairs.  
  - Have each participant place one hand on the shoulder, knee, or arm of the person next to them.  
  - Designate the first person in line to start the signal (for example, by squeezing the next person’s hand or tapping their shoulder).  
  - Each person quickly passes the signal along the line as soon as they feel it.  
  - The last person in the line raises their hand or calls out when they receive the signal.  
  - Use a stopwatch to time how long the signal takes to travel through the line.  
  - Divide the total distance by the total time to estimate the average speed of the nerve signal through the group (not the actual nerve speed, but a model of how signals move).



====Links==== 
Connect the Neurons: A Classroom Activity - BrainU Videos: 
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====Variations====
  * Compare times using different group sizes.  
  * Try different types of signals (hand squeeze, shoulder tap, word relay) and see which is fastest.  
  * Race two lines of participants to see which group relays the signal faster.  
  * Test if practice makes the group faster over multiple trials.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Ensure participants do not hit or push too hard when passing the signal.  
  * Keep the demonstration in an open space to avoid tripping or bumping hazards.  
  * Remind participants to stay alert and focused on their turn to avoid delays.




====Questions to Consider====
  * How does this model demonstrate the way nerves transmit information? (It shows how signals move from one “neuron” to the next in a chain.)  
  * Why is this slower than actual nerve impulses? (Real nerve impulses travel at up to 120 m/s, while human reactions add delay at each step.)  
  * What factors affect how quickly the signal moves down the line? (Attention, speed of response, number of people in the line.)  
  * How might repeated trials change the results? (Practice can improve reaction time, reducing delays.)