Topics in Neuroscience and Behavior
Janice Naegele and Paul Lombroso
Neuroscience is a discipline that seeks to understand how the brain and nervous system works to control behavior and emotions. It is a highly interdisciplinary field that draws from psychology, biology, philosophy, molecular biology, and psychiatry. This lecture and discussion course introduces key concepts in understanding the basic organization of the brain, how the brain develops, neuronal communication, neurotransmitters, and signal transduction. We discuss current ideas about how the nervous system controls behaviors ranging from the stress response, how we move, learning and memory, and sexual behavior. Each topic includes examples of how the nervous system can go awry in diseases and neurological disorders including: developmental disorders, anxiety disorders, learning disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy. Recent treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including stem cell-based therapies will also be discussed. Hands-on interactive work with brain models and computer simulations of neuronal activity will supplement the readings and lectures.
*Readings packet from various sources
*Selected chapters from Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain by M. Bear, M.Connors, and M. Paradiso. This text will be available on reserve at the Science Library -- students do not need to purchase this text as the readings packet will be the main text for the course.
Janice Naegele, Ph.D.
Take home exam: 10%
Essays (5; 15 pts each): 75%
Class participation: 15%
|June 24||Neurons and glial cells, brain development, functional neuroanatomy||TBA||Naegele||
Work with brain models on reserve
in science library
|June 26||Information processing in the brain: neurons as integrators and signaling units||TBA||Naegele||Virtual experiments with neural simulations|
|July 1||Basics of molecular biology for neuroscience||TBA||Lombroso||Response essay #1|
|July 3||No class||TBA||Take home quiz|
|July 8||Neurotransmitters and effects of drugs on the brain||TBA||Naegele||Response essay #2|
|July 10||Developmental disorders||TBA||Lombroso|
|July 15||Learning and memory I||TBA||Lombroso||Response essay #3|
|July 17||Learning and memory II||TBA||Lombroso|
|July 22||Psychiatric disorders||TBA||Scahill (guest lecturer)||Response essay #4|
|July 24||Epigenetics and effects of maternal behavior on offspring||TBA||Lombroso|
|July 29||Sex and gender differences in the brain||TBA||Naegele||Respons essay #5|
|August 1||Gene Therapy and stem cell therapy for neurological disorders||TBA||Naegele||Movies|