Course Catalog
NEUROSCI 398-0 – Senior Thesis Seminar
Instruction in writing a scientific thesis, discussion of student projects, instruction and peer feedback of thesis drafts, and continued independent research. Open to seniors pursuing departmental honors. Requires permission from the Director fo Undergraduate Studies. Please follow this link for more information on Honors in Neuroscience.
NEUROSCI 399-0 – Independent Study
Supervised laboratory hands on methods research with a faculty member. Requires permission of the Neuroscience Director of Undergraduate Studies. Please follow this link for expectations of registering for this course NEUROSCI 399-0 requirements.
Courses Primarily for First-Year and Sophomore Students
NEUROSCI 101-6-0 – First Year Seminar
Open to first-year students in Weinberg College. This course does not satisfy major requirements in Neuroscience but does serve as a Weinberg first-year seminar. There will be several writing assignments on a science-related topic.
NEUROSCI 101-6-20 – First Year Seminar - This is Your Brain on College
In this WCAS first-year seminar, we will examine recent research on learning and memory through the unique lens of college life. What do we know (or think we know) about how memories are encoded in the brain? How is college a different learning environment than high school? Together, we will review scientific studies on the impact of college life on student academic performance, and correlate those findings with studies of human and animal learning in the laboratory. After taking this course, you will have a foundational understanding of the neurobiological basis of memory, learn how to read scientific literature critically, and develop strategies to improve your study habits and performance here at Northwestern University. Open to first-year students in Weinberg College. This course does not satisfy major requirements in Neuroscience but does serve as a Weinberg first-year seminar. There will be several writing assignments on a science-related topic.
Courses Primarily for Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Students
NEUROSCI 202-0 – Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Introduction to principles governing nervous system function at the cellular and molecular level. May not receive credit for both NEUROSCI 202-0 and BIOL_SCI 302-0. Prerequisites: BIOL_SCI 217-0 and must be a neuroscience major.
Natural Sciences Distro Area
NEUROSCI 206-0 – Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience
This course explores current understanding of the organization and function of the mammalian central nervous system.Topics will include basic neuroanatomy, sensation and sensory perception, motor control, and higher cognitive functions including decision-making. May not receive credit for both this course and the former NEUROSCI 306-0/BIOL_SCI 306-0. Prerequisite: NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0 and Must be a neuroscience major.
Natural Sciences Distro Area
NEUROSCI 303-0 – Molecular Mechanisms of Neuropsychopharmacology
Advanced seminar focusing on molecular mechanisms and aberrations of synaptic signal transduction and drugs that target them. Prerequisite: NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0.
NEUROSCI 304-0 – Developmental Neurobiology
Embryology and cellular/molecular mechanisms of nervous system development. Topics include patterning of the early nervous system, neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, writing of neural circuits, activity and experience-dependent development and sex differences in early and late development. May not receive credit for both this course and the former BIOL_SCI 304-0. Prerequisites: BIOL_SCI 215-0 and one of the following : NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0.
NEUROSCI 311-0 – Biophysical Analysis of Neurons for ISP
Neuronal ion channels, membrane properties, synaptic transmission, and transduction. This course will be offered during Winter 2020 and next in Winter 2022. Prerequisites: ISP Majors and Neuroscience Majors with permission of instructor or department.
NEUROSCI 320-0 – Animal Behavior
Animal behavior from the neuroscience perspective. Neurobiological bases of foraging, communication, migration, predator-prey interactions, mating, and parental care. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0.
Natural Sciences Distro Area
NEUROSCI 324-0 – Neurobiology of Biological Clocks and Sleep
General properties of sleep and circadian rhythms; how sleep and the circadian clock regulate a number of diverse activities at the cell, organ, and organism levels. May not receive credit for both this course and the former BIOL_SCI 324-0. Prerequisite: NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 215-0.
NEUROSCI 326-0 – Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Molecular and neural bases of memory. Taught with BIOL_SCI 326-0: may not receive credit for both courses.Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0.
NEUROSCI 355-0 – Advanced Neurophysiology Laboratory
Learn to record electrophysiological signals (action potentials and post synaptic potentials) from living neural systems using amplifiers and recording equipment commonly found in research labs around the world. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0; and consent of instructor.
NEUROSCI 355-0 – Neurogenetics of Behavior Laboratory
Project-based laboratory investigating the genetic basis of behavior in a simple model system; molecular genetic techniques used in neurobiology. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0.
NEUROSCI 360-0 – Neuroscience of Brain Disorders
Survey of brain disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases, developmental disorders, narcolepsy, and migraine. Trace progress from the laboratory to the clinic, evaluate the state of knowledge and understand future directions. Strongly recommend review of basic genetics and molecular biology. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0.
Natural Sciences Distro Area
NEUROSCI 377-0 – Neurobiology of Sensation and Perception
Analysis of the key concepts underlying the neurobiological mechanisms of vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, and pain. Neural pathways leading to perception and processing of stimuli will also be discussed. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0.
Natural Sciences Distro Area
NEUROSCI 390-0-20 – Neurobiology of Homeostatic Behavior
The nervous system monitors internal states (such as body temperature, blood pressure, and nutrient and water balance) and drives behaviors to maintain homeostasis of these states, which is essential to life. This course will investigate the structure and physiology of neural circuits that orchestrate this elaborate balance, including central nervous system pathways and peripheral autonomic pathways. Students will learn to evaluate the scientific literature and communicate key research findings both in writing and through oral presentations. See description in Caesar for more information. This course may be used as a Neuroscience Group B elective or as an Allied Field in Biology. Prerequisites:NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0.
NEUROSCI 390-0-20 may be used as a Neuroscience Group B elective or may be used as an Allied Field in Biology.
NEUROSCI 390-0-21 – From Perception to Action
How does sensory perception guide our behavior? This course will investigate how the brain processes sensory input to guide voluntary movement. This course will examine higher level sensory processing, attention, decision making, and motor control at the level of neural systems. This course may be used as a Neuroscience Group B elective or as an Allied Field in Biology. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0.
NEUROSCI 390-0-21 may be used as a Neuroscience Group B elective or may be used as an Allied Field in Biology.
NEUROSCI 390-0-22 – Neurobiology of Stress, Adversity, and Resilience
This writing-intensive and discussion-based course will draw from primary literature on the neurobiology of healthy and toxic stress, individual differences in stress susceptibility and resilience, to explore biological mechanisms by which adversity can influence health and other outcomes. Oral presentations and a final paper are required. No textbook required. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0 .
NEUROSCI 390-0-22 may be used as a Neuroscience Group B elective or may be used as an Allied Field in Biology.
NEUROSCI 390-0-23 – Genetic and Circuit Analysis of Motivated Behavior
Critical explorations of brain structures and functions (and dysfunctions) underlying motivated behaviors to maintain homeostasis. May be used as a Neuroscience Group B elective or may be used as an Allied Field in Biology. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0.
NEUROSCI 390-0-23 may be used as a Neuroscience Group B elective or may be used as an Allied Field in Biology.
NEUROSCI 390-0-60 – Neuro-Anatomy Laboratory
This course focuses on the overall organization of the nervous system, relating structure to function with an emphasis on dissection and vertebrate anatomy. All classes will meet in the Neuroscience Teaching Laboratory. This laboratory may be used as a Neuroscience Group B elective or may be used as an Allied Field in Biology. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0