Neural Science (2020 - 2022)
Required Courses for the Major
Introduction to Neural Science
NEURL-UA 100 Prerequisite: Principles of Biology I (BIOL-UA 11). Offered in the spring. Glimcher, Movshon. 4 points.
Introductory lecture covering fundamental topics: principles of brain organization; structure and ultrastructure of neurons; neurophysiology and biophysics of excitable cells; synaptic transmission; neurotransmitter systems and neurochemistry; neuropharmacology; neuroendocrine relations; molecular biology of neurons; development and plasticity of the brain; aging and diseases of the nervous system; organization of sensory and motor systems; structure and function of the cerebral cortex; modeling of neural systems.
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
NEURL-UA 210 Prerequisites: Introduction to Neural Science (NEURL-UA 100) and Molecular and Cell Biology I (BIOL-UA 21). Offered in the fall. Aoki, Carter, Klann, Reyes. Lecture. 4 points. The laboratory section (intended primarily for honors students in the neural science major) carries the same prerequisites and is taught by the same instructors; offered in the fall; 2 points.
Cell structure and organization of the vertebrate central nervous system; mechanisms underlying neural signaling and plasticity; control of cell form and its developmental determinants. Laboratory instruction in anatomical, physiological, and biochemical methods for investigating the biology of nerve cells. Note: neural science majors on the honors track must register for both the lecture and the laboratory, but these need not be taken simultaneously; other interested students will be placed on a waitlist and let into the course if space permits.
Behavioral and Integrative Neuroscience
NEURL-UA 220 Prerequisite: Introduction to Neural Science (NEURL-UA 100). Offered in the spring. Constantinople, Kiani, Peron, Pesaran. 4 points. The laboratory section (intended primarily for honors students in the neural science major) carries the same prerequisites and is taught by the same instructors; offered in the spring; 2 points.
Sensory process, learning and memory, motivational and attentional mechanisms, and the motor system. Laboratories employ a range of electrophysiological techniques, lesions and pharmacological manipulations, and various behavioral techniques to examine the integrative processes by which the brain governs behavior. Note: Neural science majors on the honors track must register for both the lecture and the laboratory, but these need not be taken simultaneously; other interested students will be placed on a waitlist and let into the course if space permits.
Elective Courses for the Major
Special Topics in Neural Science
NEURL-UA 302 Prerequisites: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (NEURL-UA 210) and/or Behavioral and Integrative Neuroscience (NEURL-UA 220), or permission of the instructor. Offered in the fall and spring. 4 points.
Lectures present background material and address current problems; reading and discussion of review articles and current literature on the topic. Topics vary and may include cognitive neural science, signal processing in neural networks, molecular mechanisms of memory, motor function, vision, and computational neuroscience. Students may take up to three different versions of this course for credit.
Development of the Nervous System
NEURL-UA 305 Prerequisites: Introduction to Neural Science (NEURL-UA 100) and Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (NEURL-UA 210). Offered in the spring. Sanes. 4 points.
Examines behavioral milestones and explains them at the level of neural mechanisms. Topics include the enormous diversity of neuron and glial cell types; changes in neuronal function and connectivity during the period of developmental plasticity; environmental influences; the disruption of normal developmental mechanisms and the neurological disorders this causes.
Honors and Independent Study
Honors Seminar
NEURL-UA 301 Required for students on the honors track. Offered in the fall. Louie. 4 points.
Covers both practical and theoretical aspects of succeeding in science. Topics include: scientific writing; authorship and publication practices; navigating mentorship relationships; oral presentation skills. Weekly seminar class with active participation, including student presentation of journal articles and varying length presentations of students’ own research projects.
Independent Study
NEURL-UA 997, 998 Offered in the fall and spring. 0 to 4 points per term.
Independent study with a Center for Neural Science faculty member. Open to advanced neural science majors with permission of the director of undergraduate studies.