Undergraduate Courses
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Neurobiology Option for Biology Undergraduates
Courses
Neuroscience 523 (crosslisted with Zoology and Psychology):
Neurobiology I
Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology. First semester
of two semester sequence, primarily for science majors. Basic
mechanisms in cellular neurophysiology, electrophysiology and
chemistry of nerve signals, mechanisms in integration, simple
nervous pathways and their behavioral correlates.
Neuroscience 524 (crosslisted with Zoology and Psychology):
Neurobiology II
An Introduction to Brain and Behavior. This course is a sequel
to Zoology 523. It will provide an introduction to the mammalian
nervous system covering neuroanatomy, neural coding, methodology,
and motor systems and their plasticity, biological rhythms, arousal
and attention, physio-logical regulation, reward and aversion,
learning and memory.
Psychology 454: Behavioral Neuroscience
One semester course with lab (Psychology 455). Most appropriate
for students who want a one semester introduction to neuroscience.
Physiological mechanisms determining reflex action, emotions,
locomotion, motor skills, thinking and language, effects of drugs,
internal secretions, and neural lesions on behavior.
Communicative Disorders 210: Speech and Language Functions
of the Brain
Considers how speech and language are represented in, and controlled
by, the central nervous system. Emphasizes language formulation
and comprehension, brain structures and pathways thought to serve
speech and language, and neurologic disorders of communication.
Communicative Disorders 503: Neural Mechanisms of Speech,
Hearing, and Language
Basic neuroanatomical and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying
the communication process. Neuropathologies and their associated
communication disorders.
Computer Science 539: Introduction to Artificial Neural
Network and Fuzzy Systems
Theory and applications of artificial neural networks and fuzzy
logic: multi-layer perceptrons, self-organizing maps, radial basis
networks, Hopfield networks, recurrent networks, fuzzy-set theory,
fuzzy logic control, adaptive fuzzy neural networks, genetic algorithms,
and evolutionary computing. Applications to control, pattern recognition,
nonlinear system modeling, speech and image processing.
ECE 461 (crosslisted with BME and Neurophsiology): Mathmatical
and Computer Modeling of Physiological Systems
Mathematical and computer modeling of physiological systems; principal
emphasis on cardiovascular system and individual nerve cells;
other topics include respiratory sytem and skeletal-muscle system;
extensive use of "hands-on" computer modeling using
Acsl.
Kinesiology 321: Introduction to the Neural Basis for
Movement
How to identify the neural substrates underlying human movement.
Basic neuroanatomy and neurophysiology plus more in-depth materials.
Emphasis on sensorimotor function.
Math 491: Symmetry in Art, Biology and Mathematics
This syllabus is organized within the theme of visual perception
of symmetry and its role in computation and abstraction of concepts
of symmetry. Since the study of brain information processing relies
on statistical analysis of data, this syllabus provides a balance
between deterministic and probabilistic reasoning, and the differences
in methodology of rigorous analysis of data in each domain.
Medical Physics 473: Imaging in Medicine
Conceptual, mathematical, and statistical aspects of imaging science,
including filmscreen radiography, positron and x-ray computed
tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.
Neurophysiology 610: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Intended primarily for graduate students. Topics include voltage-sensitive
currents, molecular biology of neuronal receptors, synaptic transmission
and sensory transduction.
Neurophysiology 730: Sensory Mechanisms in Audition
Comprehensive treatment of auditory neuroscience from the physics
of sound to the anatomy and physiology of the auditory system.
The processing of simple to complex sounds at multiple levels
will be addressed.
Neuroscience 611 (crosslisted with Anatomy, Pharmacology,
and Physiology): Systems Neuroscience
This course is a sequel to Neurophysiology 610. This course will
provide a general introduction to the brain and cover the following
topics: neuroanatomy, sensory systems (somato-sensation, vision,
audition, chemical senses), motor systems (spinal cord, cerebellum,
basal ganglia, cortex, oculomotor), higher order function (learning,
memory, cognition, emotion, homeostasis).
Neuroscience 619 (crosslisted with Zoology, Anthropology,
and Psychology): Biology of Mind
Evolution of mind. Transitions from primate through early hominid
to modern human intelligence. Modern studies of brain mechanisms
underlying vision, emotions, language, memory and learning. Models
of the brain as a "Darwin Machine" generating the narrative
self.
Neuroscience 625 (crosslisted with Physiology): Brain
Cell Cultures - A Laboratory Course
The aim of the course is to provide students with essential knowledge
of cell cultures and related techniques and hands-on training
in establishing brain cell cultures. The topics covered will include
general principles of cell cultures, cortical neurons, astrocytes,
oligodendrocytes, immunohistochemical staining, and organotypic
slice cultures of neuronal tissue.
Neuroscience 630 (crosslisted with Physiology and Anatomy):
Neuronal Mechanisms for Sensation and Memory in Cerebral Cortex
The course will consider principles of operation of the cerebral
cortex. Principles of sensory processing will be analyzed by comparing
the visual and olfactory systems. Learning and memory will be
considered in depth, including mechanisms of synaptic plasticity,
roles of various neurotransmitters, and the contributions of different
brain structures such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
Neuroscience 675: Special Topics in Neuroscience
Topics vary by year and semester. Check timetable for current
offerings.
Neuroscience 681, 682: Senior Honors Thesis
Neuroscience 691, 692: Undergraduate Thesis
Neuroscience 699: Directed Study in Research
Physiology 615: Cellular Physiology
In-depth survey of the different mechanisms by which important
cations and anions are transported across cell membranes. Areas
covered include anion carriers, active Na transport, regulation
of cell Ca2+, cell pH and cell volume.
Psychology 406: Psychology of Perception
A broad introduction to perception covering all sensory modalities,
with an emphasis on vision. Various perceptual tasks such as depth
estimation, motion perception and object/speech recognition are
considered from a variety of perspectives including psychophysics,
neurophysiology and computation.
Psychology 411: Current Topics in Psychology
Topics vary by year and semester.
Psychology 414: Cognitive Psychology
The course attempts to answer questions about how people perceive,
learn, remember, plan, solve problems, make decisions, and communicate.
Although the main approach is psychological, we will also consider
contributions from computer science, linguistics, and neurobiology.
Psychology 486: Honors Psychology of Perception - Survey
of visual perception
Topics include development of the perceptual systems; rules governing
reliable perception; perceptual constancies, illusions, adaptation
and learning; individual and cross-cultural differences, motion
perception, and proprioception.
Psychology 514: Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Contemporary theories of retarded intellectual development and
related research. Reviews methodological and conceptual problems
related to the conduct of basic behavioral research on mental
retardation. Discussion or retardate-normal earning and motivational
process differences and similarities.
Zoology 400: Topics in Biology
Topics vary by year and semester.
Zoology 625: Development of the Nervous System
Survey of the principles guiding neuronal development. Course
will cover descriptive and experimental analyses of developmental
mechanisms underlying the formation of both vertebrate and invertebrate
nervous systems. Prerequisite: One intermediate level course in
biology; background in development & neurobiology recommended.
Zoology 630 (crosslisted with Biochemistry and Pharmacology):
Cellular Signal Transduction Mechanisms
Comprehensive coverage of human hormones, growth factors, and
other mediators; emphasis on hormone action and biosynthesis,
and cell biology of hormone-producing cells.