SPRING 2002
BIOLOGY 490: NEUROBIOLOGY

SCHEDULE OF LECTURES AND ASSIGNMENTS

This schedule may be modified during the semester.
Check the course webpage regularly for updates.
Last updated by EES on 03/19/02


Exam123 Final
Assignment 1 2   3   4
TERM PAPER

 
DATE READING & ASSIGNMENTS TOPIC
Jan 10 Chapter 1 Bear text  Introduction to Neurobiology
Jan 15 Chapter 2 Bear text 
Articles in Zuhl Library 
  • Greenfield Ch 1
  • Hof et al Ch.3
 Neuron and Glia Structure & Function
Cell types and diversity
Jan 17 Chapter 2 Bear text 
Articles in Zuhl Library
  • Brady et al Ch.4
 Neuron and Glia Structure & Function
Membranes, organelles and biomolecules
Jan 22  Chapter 2 Bear text 
Articles in Zuhl Library
  • Brady et al Ch.4
 Neuron and Glia Structure & Function
Membranes, organelles and biomolecules
Jan 24 Assignment 1 due
Chapter 3 Bear text 
Articles in Zuhl Library
  • Greenfield Ch 3

    • Purves et al Ch. 2
 Neural Signalling:
Fundamentals of electronics and thermodynamics
RC circuits & Nernst equation
Jan 28 Chapter 3 Bear text 
Articles in Zuhl Library
  • Greenfield Ch 3

    • Purves et al Ch. 2
 Neural Signalling:
Electrical properties of neurons: 
Resting potentials and "passive" properties
Membrane time constants, Goldman equation
Jan 31 Chapter 4 Bear text 
Articles in Zuhl Library
  • Purves et al Ch. 3,4
 Neural Signalling
Action potentials and "active" properties:
Threshold, Overshot, Refractory period, AP propagation, Axon length and time constants
Feb 5 Chapter 4 Bear text 
Articles in Zuhl Library
    Purves et al Ch. 3,4
 Neural Signalling
Action potentials and "active" properties:
Hodkin and Huxley two microelectrode voltage clamp,
Voltage and time dependent conductances
Feb 7 Chapter 4 Bear text 
Articles in Zuhl Library
    Purves et al Ch. 3,4
 Neural Signalling
Action potentials and "active" properties
Patch clamp and ion channels
Stochastic single channel properties
Feb 12 Chapter 4 Bear text 
Articles in Zuhl Library
    Purves et al Ch. 3,4
 Neural Signalling
Ion channels structural diversity 
Channelopathies
Feb 14 Assignment 2 due
Chapter 5,6  Bear text 		 Neural Communication
Electrical and chemical synaptic transmission
Feb 19 EXAM 1 (125 pts)  
Feb 21 Chapter 5,6  Bear text  Neural Communication
Chemical synaptic transmission: CNS and PNS
Feb 26 Chapter 5, 6 Bear text  Neural Communication
Vesicles, fusion, axonal transport, neurotransmitters
Feb 28 Assignment 3 due
Chapter 5,6 Bear text 		 Neural Communication
Neurotransmitters 
Mar 5 Guest lecturer: 
Dr. Matilde Holzwarth
Chapter 7 Bear text 		 Structure of the Nervous System
Organization and Morphological Development
Mar 7 Chapter 5,6 Bear text  Neural Communication
Neurotransmitter  Receptors
Mar 12  Chapter 8 Bear text Sensory systems: Olfaction and Taste
Mar 14 Chapter 15 Bear text  Chemical Control of Brain and Behavior 
Hypothalamus, ANS, Diffuse Modulatory Systems, Fear, Aggression 
Mar 19 EXAM 2  
Mar 21 Chapter 11 Bear text
Chapter 12 Bear text 		 Sensory systems: Audition and balance
Sensory systems: Somatosensory System
Mar 25-29 SPRING BREAK
Apr 2 Chapter 9 Bear text Sensory systems: Visual System 
Apr 4 Chapter 10 Bear text Sensory systems: Visual System 
Apr 9 Chapter 22 Bear text  Neural development: Wiring the Brain
Neurogenesis, cell migration, axon guidance
Synapse formation, programmed cell death
Apr 11 Chapter 21 Bear text  Mental Illness 
Anxiety and Mood Disorders, Schizophrenia 
Apr 16 EXAM 3   
Apr 18 Chapter 19 Bear text  Brain Rhythms
EEG, Sleep, Circadian Rhythms
Apr 23  TERM PAPER DUE
Chapter 17 Bear text 		 Sex and the Brain
Sexual Dimorphism, Hormones and the Brain
Apr 25 Chapter 23 Bear text  Learning and memory
Memory systems
Apr 30 Assignment 4 due
Chapter 24 Bear text 		 Learning and memory
Molecular mechanisms
May 2   Integration of Concepts
May 7 10:30 AM -12:30 PM FINAL EXAM