Gahtan Lab - Cellular Neuroscience Course

Cellular Neuroscience (Biology 580, CRN: 32081-Lecture, 24444-Lab) Spring, 2010

Course Description: Professors from biology, psychology and mathematics will lead lectures and lab exercises on selected topics in cellular neuroscience, including genetic, biochemical, and electrophysiological mechanisms of information processing by neurons.

Learning Objectives: To provide an overview of knowledge and methods pertaining to selected topics within the broad field of cellular neuroscience. This course is especially intended for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, especially those intending to pursue doctoral training in neuroscience or related fields.

Section 1: Nervous System Development (Jacob Varkey, Biology)

Development 1: Differentiation and Migration

Development 2: Glial development

Development 3: Growth Cones

Development 4: Synaptogenesis

Section 2: Physiology (Bruce O’Gara, Biology)

Physiology 1: Membrane potential, Nernst Equation, Goldman Equation

Physiology 2: Membrane potential, Synaptic transmission

Physiology 3: Synaptic transmission

Physiology 4: Oscillators and Central Pattern Generators 1

Physiology 5: Oscillators and Central Pattern Generators 2

Physiology 6: Introduction to SWIMMY

Physiology 7: Modulation of Neuronal Circuits

Physiology 8: Neural Circuit Analysis

Section 3: Mathematical modeling of neurons (Bori Mazzag, Math)

Modeling 1: Introduction and overview of mathematical modeling

Modeling 2: Isolated ion channels and phase-line analysis

Modeling 3: Differential equations and phase-plane analysis

Modeling 4: Hodgkin-Huxley equations I.

Modeling 5: Stochastic synapse

Section 4: From Cells to Behavior (Ethan Gahtan, Psychology)

Behavior 1: Aggression: Steroids, cells, cognition, behavior

Behavior 2: Love: Peptides

Behavior 3: Depression: neurogenesis

Behavior 4: Hunger: Leptin signaling

Behavior 5: Learning: LTP mechanisms