The course work for predoctoral trainees is described in detail below. The general plan is for each student to take a core curriculum of 5 courses (cellular neurobiology, developmental neurobiology, molecular neurobiology, systems neurobiologyy as well as either a cell biology or molecular biology course), and at least 4 additional courses designed to strengthen the research interests of the student. The student's faculty advisory committee is responsible for ensuring that students have taken courses appropriate for their research interests and often suggest additional course work in other fields such as cell physiology, molecular genetics, or mathematics. In addition, all students are required to serve as teaching assistants without pay in two courses and attend a series of lectures on scientific integrity and responsible conduct of research. 

Core neurobiology courses: Evaluations for Neurobiology courses are carried out by the Biological Sciences Division which produces an anonymous compendium of the individual student responses and gives it to the Neurobiology administrator who shares it with the instructor(s) after grades are recorded. 

All classes listed below are graduate courses and are quite small (~ 10 students) allowing for considerable interaction between the students and the instructors. In general, our graduate students take very few undergraduate or medical school courses (except, of course, those students in M.D./Ph.D. combined degree program). 

NURB 31600:  Vertebrate Neural Systems

Instructors: Clifton Ragsdale, Peggy Mason

This lab-centered course teaches students the fundamental principles of vertebrate nervous system organization.  Students learn the major structures and the basic circuitry of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.  Somatic, visual, auditory, vestibular and olfactory sensory systems are presented in particular depth.  A highlight of this course is that students become practiced at recognizing the nuclear organization and cellular architecture of many regions of brain in rodents, cats and primates.

NURB 31800: Cellular Neurobiology 

Instructor: Philip Lloyd 

This course is concerned with the structure and function of the nervous system at the cellular level. The cellular and subcellular components of neurons and their basic membrane and electrophysiological properties will be described. Cellular and molecular aspects of interactions between neurons will be studied. This will lead to functional analyses of the mechanisms involved in the generation and modulation of behavior in selected model systems. 

NURB 32200: Molecular Neurobiology 

Instructors: William Green, Brian Popko, Gopal Thinakaran

This course is devoted to the examination of current research in the molecular biology of the nervous system. We will explore the structure and function of macromolecules that control, propagate, and elicit neural signaling. Topics covered include 1) structural elements of neurons and glia; 2) structure and function of the synapse; 3) aspects of the molecular basis of neural signaling; and 4) gene expression in neural systems. Lectures draw on current journal literature to present a state-of-the-art background of the topic, the current questions being explored, as well as problems and aspects.

NURB 32500: Developmental Neurobiology

Instructor: Elizabeth Grove

Topics include neural induction, early patterning of the central nervous system, axon guidance and neuronal migration, the development of brain activity, and the mechanisms of plasticity that fine-tune brain function. Approaches will range from molecular to cellular to systems neurobiology. Focus will be on the vertebrate CNS but attention will be given to important lessons from invertebrate systems. 
 

Additional courses offered by faculty in the Committee on Neurobiology include:

CPNS 33000: Computational Neuroscience I: Single Neuron. 

Instructor: Philip Ulinski 

This course briefly reviews the historical development of computational neuroscience and discusses the functional properties of individual neurons. The electrotonic structure of neurons, functional properties of synapses, and voltage-gated ion channels are discussed.

CPNS 33100: Computational Neuroscience II: Vision. 

Instructors: Philip Ulinski, Dottie Hanck

This course considers computational approaches to vision. It discusses the basic anatomy and physiology of the retina and central visual pathways, and then examines computational approaches to vision based on linear and non-linear systems theory, and algorithms derived from computer vision.

CPNS 33200: Computational Neuroscience III: Cognitive Neuroscience 

Instructors: Nicholas Hatsopoulos

This course is concerned with the relationship of the nervous system to higher order behaviors such as perception and encoding, action, attention and learning and memory. Modern methods of imaging neural activity are introduced, and information theoretic methods for studying neural coding in individual neurons and populations of neurons are discussed. 

NEUR 33400:  Genetic approaches to neurobiology

Instructor: Xiaoxi Zhuang

This course is more technique oriented.  The goal is to give a good coverage of different genetic approaches as well as 
different aspects of  neurobiology.  Topics are organized by genetic approaches as the following.  
1) Transgenic. 2) Gene targeting. 3) Gene replacement. 4) Conditional knockout. 5) Genetic and optical control 
of neural activity. 6) Transgenic facilitated imaging. 7) Forward genetics and genetic screening.  The selection of a variety 
of papers throughout the course aims to cover different neural pathways, neurotransmitters, receptor/channel types, 
signaling pathways, and functional implications (learning, memory, addiction, development etc).  Specific emphasis will
be on the integration of molecular, cellular and systems level approaches in understanding behavior.  Lecture time will be 
devoted to the genetic approaches.  Students will present and discuss papers. We will have 2-3 papers each lecture.  
Grades will be based on class presentation, participation and final paper (a short proposal).

NURB 32400:  Synaptic Transmission

Instructors:  Daniel McGehee, Aaron Fox

This course covers the basic principles of synaptic transmission and plasticity using a combination of lecture and discussion of primary literature.  Lecture topics cover membrane electrical phenomena that lead to release of neurotransmitter presynaptically, as well as the physilogical consequences of postsynaptic receptor activation. Paper discussions, which make up ~ 2/3 of the course, are centered on two major topics: 1) The molecular machinery controlling synaptic vesicle exocytosis and recycling, and 2) Synaptic plasticity covering LTP, LTD, Metaplasticity, Spike-timing dependent plasticity and Homeostatic plasticity.  There is significant emphasis on the connections between the various forms of synaptic modification and behavior.

NURB 33800: Animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders

Instructor: Stephanie Dulawa

This course will cover the development, validation, and use of animal models of neuropsychiatric 
disorders. A wide range of animal models will be covered including behavioral, pharmacological, 
and genetic models, with an emphasis on mouse models. The disorders covered will range from 
those with unknown etiology to those with known single-gene causes.  Disorders covered will include 
mood disorders, aggression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, and Huntington's disease.

We will discuss 1-2 papers each lecture.  An overview of each topic will be presented in advance.  

There will be homework assignments for each class.  You will write a short answer for each of my questions, which will cover the assigned 
papers for each class.

Students will present papers. We will focus on the approach, usefulness, and validity of the animal model being put forth in the paper.  

At the end of the quarter, each student will present a research proposal.  You will propose experiments for developing a novel animal 
model for a phenomenon that interests you, and write a 2 page single-spaced document.  I will be available to discuss and approve 
topics throughout the quarter. This proposal will allow you to use the knowledge you have gained during the quarter to develop your own model.

NPHP 33200: Excitable Membranes and Ion Channels  

Instructors: Dorothy Hanck, Deborah Nelson 

This course presents a review of the voltage-gated and ligand-gated channels, including the functional role(s) of the channels in cell behavior and biophysical aspects of ion transport through channels. 

 06/25/2008