Detailed course offerings (Time Schedule) are available for
NEURO 501 Introduction to Neurobiology (3)
Survey of molecular, cellular, and development neuroscience, including gene regulation, the cytoskeleton, protein sorting in the secretory pathway, neuronal pathfinding, synaptogenesis, glial cells, growth factors, programed cell death, and neurotransmitter receptors. Includes lecture discussion of original literature.
NEURO 502 Introduction to Neurobiology (5)
Systems level survey of vertebrate system, focusing on sensory system, on motor system, and on neuroanatomy. Lectures cover topics in sensory and motor systems. Laboratory includes brain dissection and study of intact, prosected, and sectioned brain and spinal cord. Emphasis is on human nervous system.
NEURO 503 Cognitive and Integrative Neurobiology (4)
Discussion of higher neural processes like learning, memory, and decision making. Lecture and discussion of original literature, exercises in data analysis and quantitative reasoning.
NEURO 504 Biophysics of Nerve, Muscle, and Synapse (3)
Introduces biophysical properties of nerve and muscle cells. Topics include intrinsic electrical properties of neurons, ion channels, receptor signaling, calcium signaling, contraction of muscles, and synaptic function. Offered: jointly with P BIO 504.
NEURO 510 Seminar in Neuroscience (0.5, max. 30)
Seminar of advanced in-depth coverage on neuroscience topics, current interests, and the latest research that is being conducted. Lectures by program faculty and invited speakers. Credit/no-credit only.
NEURO 511 Seminar in Advanced Neurobiology (1-3, max. 30)
Weekly faculty lectures, student presentations, and discussions of past and current scientific literature in neurobiology and behavior.
NEURO 512 Readings in Advanced Neurobiology and Behavior (1-3, max. 30)
Guided study of the primary literature of neurobiology and behavior. Emphasizes critical analysis, accuracy of expression, bibliographical technique, and other factors of good scholarship. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Credit/no-credit only.
NEURO 515 Teaching Practicum in Neuroscience (3-6, max. 30)
Supervised training in the teaching of neuroscience and related scientific topics. Prerequisite: graduate standing in neuroscience graduate program and permission of instructor. Credit/no-credit only.
NEURO 526 Introduction to Laboratory Research in Neuroscience (4, max. 30)
Students carry out research projects in the laboratories of different faculty members on a quarterly rotation basis. Credit/no-credit only.
NEURO 527 Current Topics in Neuroscience (1, max. 30)
Presentation and critical discussion of classic and contemporary impactful neuroscience research articles. Credit/no-credit only.
NEURO 528 Computational Neuroscience (3)
Introduction to computational methods for understanding nervous systems and the principles governing their operation. Topics include representation of information by spiking neurons, information processing in neural circuits, and algorithms for adaptation and learning. Prerequisite: elementary calculus, linear algebra, and statistics, or permission of instructor. Offered: jointly with CSE 528.
NEURO 529 Experimental Design and Grant Writing (2)
Provides an introduction to science philosophy and the different methods currently available to address a scientific question. Focuses on the development and completion of a written research proposal. Students apply the concepts to progressively elaborate a proposal, evaluate proposals from their peers, and eventually complete a proposal with the goal of a submitting to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Prerequisite: enrolled in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience, or permission of instructor; recommended: concurrently working in a research lab setting. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: S.
NEURO 535 Research Opportunities in Neurobiology and Behavior (1)
NEURO 541 Neuroendocrinology (3)
Emphasizes the cellular and molecular aspects of several topics in neuroendocrinology, including neuropeptide genes, reproduction, steroid hormone regulation of gene expression, mechanisms of hormone action, endocrine rhythms, and neural oscillations. Prerequisite: BIOL 220; BIOC 442 or permission of instructor. Offered: jointly with P BIO 509; W, even years.
NEURO 545 Quantitative Methods in Neuroscience (3)
Provides exposure to a variety of quantitative methods that are applicable to the study of the nervous system, and an intensive tutorial on mathematical methods and their application to neuroscience research. Format revolves around computer exercises and discussion of journal papers. Topics may include linear systems theory, Fourier analysis, ordinary differential equations, stochastic processes, signal detection theory, and information theory. Offered: jointly with P BIO 545.
NEURO 548 Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity (2)
Discusses recent primary literature on the molecular mechanisms underlying structural and functional changes of dendritic spines and synapses in the mammalian brain as result of synaptic activity and experience. Offered: jointly with P BIO 548; Sp, even years.
NEURO 550 Biophysics of Calcium Signaling (1)
Introduction to cellular calcium signaling including theoretical and technical issues of calcium signal detection and biological conclusions. Prerequisite: CONJ 531. Offered: jointly with P BIO 550; Sp, odd years.
NEURO 554 Motor Learning: Cellular and Network Mechanisms (1)
Five-week mini-course reviews the current state of research on cellular and network mechanisms of motor learning. After an introductory overview of behavioral and physiological examples of motor learning in various species and systems, students choose specific topics for discussion, using the primary literature as a source. Offered: jointly with P BIO 554.
NEURO 555 Sensory Receptors (1)
Five-lecture mini-course examines how different kinds of sensory receptors detect and respond to different modalities of sensory stimuli. Discussion focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the underlying transduction processes and the experimental evidence that they are based on. Offered: jointly with P BIO 555.
NEURO 556 Axon Pathfinding Mechanisms (1)
Examines mechanisms governing axon growth cone behavior during embryonic development and during regeneration in the injured adult. Discusses approaches employing both invertebrate and vertebrate model systems. Offered: jointly with P BIO 556.
NEURO 557 Ion Channel Gating (1)
Compares and contrasts mechanisms of gating in ligand-gated and voltage-gated ion channels. Covers basics of ligand gating and voltage gating, kinetic schemes, inactivation and desensitization, gating currents and partial agonists, and ion channel structure. Offered: jointly with P BIO 557.
NEURO 559 Neurobiology of Disease (3)
Introduces medically important neurological and psychiatric diseases and experimental approaches to understanding the basis for diseases and their treatments. Covers stroke, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases of the CNS, neurodegenerative diseases, autism, psychosis, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders. Offered: jointly with NEURL 559/P BIO 559.
NEURO 561 From Biophysics to Neural Computation (2)
Introduces the mathematics and methods of neuronal modeling. Develops, compares, and relates dynamical systems approaches and empirical characterizations of neuronal function. Includes lectures, student-led journal paper discussions, biweekly computational workshops on neuronal modeling packages, and a computations project. Offered: jointly with P BIO 561; Sp.
NEURO 600 Independent Study or Research (*-)
Credit/no-credit only.
NEURO 700 Master's Thesis (*-)
NEURO 800 Doctoral Dissertation (*-)