DEPARTMENT OF NEUROBIOLOGY

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: Must be a neuroscience major and have completed BIOL_SCI 201-0 and either CHEM 132-0 or co-enrollment in CHEM 152-0 or CHEM 172-0.

Natural Sciences Distro Area

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: Must be a neuroscience major and have completed BIOL_SCI 201-0 and either CHEM 132-0 or co-enrollment in CHEM 152-0 or CHEM 172-0.

Natural Sciences Distro Area

This course explores current understanding of the organization and function of neural systems (visual, auditory, motor, etc.) within the mammalian nervous system. Topics will include basic neuroanatomy, sensory processing, motor control, and higher cognitive functions including memory and language. Time will be devoted to presentation of essential knowledge from each area as well as to a discussion of key experiments that have contributed to our understanding. 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.

Natural Sciences Distro Area

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: Must be a neuroscience major and have completed BIOL_SCI 201-0 and either CHEM 132-0 or co-enrollment in CHEM 152-0 or CHEM 172-0.

Natural Sciences Distro Area

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.

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 or BIOL_SCI 201-0; and NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0. May not receive credit for both BIOL_SCI 215-0 and BIOL_SCI 201-0.

This course was formerly coded NEUROSCI 390-0-25 and CTECS will be available under that course code.

In this course we will delve into the genetic determinants of human behavior. We will discuss how "nature" (the genetic makeup) and "nurture" contribute to shape individual behavior and explore the implications of this interaction at the level of society, from philosophical and ethical aspects to medical and legal considerations.

We will often follow a historical perspective to understand how our thinking on this subject has changed with the advancement of scientific knowledge and with the evolution of what we think is acceptable in society. The class content will be strongly anchored in basic science: we will first learn concepts of both classical and modern genetics and neurogenetics (with emphasis on human genetics).  Please refer to Caesar for additional information.

This course is limited to Neuroscience Majors during preregistration but is open to all students meeting the prerequisites beginning February 22, 2023.

This course provides an introduction to neurobiology from an electrophysiological perspective, with an emphasis on ion channel biophysics, quantitative electrical properties of neurons, synaptic physiology, and sensory transduction. Its goal is to provide a basis for understanding how information is encoded, transmitted, and decoded in brains, as well as offer an introduction to reading scientific literature. This course will  be offered during Winter 2022 and next in Winter 2024. Prerequisites: ISP Majors and Neuroscience Majors with permission of Director of Undergraduate Studies.

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

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. The importance of biological rhythms and sleep for human health and disease will be covered in this course. 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 302-0.

Molecular and neural bases of memory. Taught with BIOL_SCI 326-0. May not receive credit for both NEUROSCI 326-0 and the former BIOL_SCI 326-0. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0. This class is available to Neuroscience Majors or Biology Majors only.

In this laboratory course you will perform electrophysiological experiments in which signals from living neurons (action potentials, local field potentials, post synaptic potentials) are recorded using amplifiers and data logging equipment commonly found in advanced research labs around the world. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; BIOL_SCI 302-0; and consent of instructor.

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; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; BIOL_SCI 302-0.

Formerly known as NEUROSCI 390-0-60, this course focuses on comparative anatomy and dissection to understand the functions of brain regions by comparing their structures across the major vertebrate classes. Includes clinical anatomy and case studies to understand the functions of brain regions by drawing connections between neurological symptoms and the localization of lesions. All classes will meet in the Neuroscience Teaching Laboratory.

Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 357-0-60 may be used as a Neuroscience Group B elective or may be used as an Allied Field in Biology.

Survey of brain disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases, schizophrenia, addiction and traumatic brain injury. Trace progress from the laboratory to the clinic, evaluate the state of knowledge and understand future directions. Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; NEUROSCI 311-0 AND NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0. Recommend review of basic genetics and molecular biology.

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.

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

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.

Neuroscience has long captured the public imagination. Soon you will be applying to graduate or medical school, or for jobs as a scientist. Yet you are not always sure about Neuroscience as reported in the news. We will learn about “great experiments” that have helped move the field forward, and some famous controversies that have done the opposite. We will address cutting-edge topics that are capturing headlines now, and we will make room for topics chosen by the vote in the class. Some lectures will introduce new material, followed by activities to help us understand, evaluate, and form an opinion about these topics. These will include discussion of readings from both public news sources and scientific literature. Small group and individual exercises will aim to develop your voice to talk about science. Students will submit short written summaries of professional scientific literature and evaluations of related science for the public. A medium-length argumentative paper will give students the opportunity to develop and articulate their opinion about an example of neuroscience gone wrong. Finally, support will be provided to develop oral presentations, aimed first at science colleagues, and next to the lay public, about a neuroscience topic currently in the news. Walk into that interview, or your family holiday, with mastery over the material, a well-formed opinion, and maybe even a proposal for a solution.

Prerequisite: Students must have completed NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 390-0-27 may be used as a Neuroscience Group B elective or may be used as an Allied Field in Biology.

Understanding brain function is a grand challenge for twenty-first century science that promises revolutionary applications to medicine and artificial intelligence. Mathematical modeling can contribute valuably to this understanding by allowing scientists to formalize experimental findings and reason beyond their intuition.

Instruction in writing a scientific thesis, discussion of student projects, instruction and peer feedback on thesis drafts, and continued independent research. Open to seniors pursuing departmental honors. Requires permission from the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Requires permission of the Neuroscience Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Supervised laboratory hands on methods research with a faculty member. Please follow this link for expectations of registering for this course NEUROSCI 399-0 requirements.