Graduate Courses
The faculty has approval to offer the following courses in the academic years 2007–2008 and 2008–2009; however, not all courses are taught each semester or summer session. Students should consult the Course Schedule to determine which courses and topics will be offered during a particular semester or summer session. The Course Schedule may also reflect changes made to the course inventory after the publication of this catalog.
Courses in other fields of study that are related to the graduate program in neuroscience are described in other sections of this catalog. A list of these courses is available from the advising office.
Unless otherwise stated below, each course meets for three lecture hours a week for one semester.
Neuroscience: NEU
380E. Vision Systems. Introduction to the anatomy, physiology, and psychophysics of human vision from an information-processing and computational perspective. Neuroscience 380E and Psychology 380E may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.
380F. Basic Pharmacology for Neuroscience. Drug classifications, mechanisms of drug action, drug side effects/adverse reactions in humans, the use of drugs in research. Neuroscience 380F and Pharmacy 380F may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and a background in physiology and organic chemistry.
382T. Principles of Neuroscience: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. A proseminar covering the core material on essential topics in neuroscience from the molecular to the systems level. Only one of the following may be counted: Biology 381C, Kinesiology 382T, Neuroscience 382T, Pharmacy 382T, Psychology 382T. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and concurrent enrollment in Neuroscience 185.
383C. Functional Neuroanatomy. An examination of the anatomy of the brain and spinal cord, emphasizing connections and functions of neural systems. Neuroscience 383C and Psychology 383C may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.
383D. Neuropharmacology. Neuroscience 383D and Pharmacy 383D may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
383M. Data Analysis and Statistics for the Neurosciences. Statistical applications relevant to areas of research in neuroscience. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, an undergraduate statistics course, and consent of instructor.
383T. Principles of Neuroscience: Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience. A proseminar covering the core material on essential topics in neuroscience from the molecular to the systems level. Only one of the following may be counted: Biology 381D, Kinesiology 383T, Neuroscience 383T, Pharmacy 383T, Psychology 383T. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and concurrent enrollment in Neuroscience 186.
384M. Advanced Statistics: Inferential. Same as Psychology 384M. Covers t-test, chi-square, analysis of variance, and nonparametric tests. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, an undergraduate statistics course, and consent of instructor.
185. Current Research in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Review and discussion of research in the field of cell and molecular neuroscience, covering important early studies and contemporary work. One lecture hour a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and concurrent enrollment in one of the following courses: Biology 381C, Kinesiology 382T, Neuroscience 382T, Pharmacy 382T, Psychology 382T.
185D. Responsible Conduct of Science. Ethical considerations in the conduct of science, including issues of animal welfare, data analysis, fraud, publications, misconduct, intellectual property, grants, peer review, and mentor responsibility. One lecture hour a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Neuroscience 185D and Pharmacy 185D may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.
385L. Topics in Neuroscience. Lectures, conference discussion, and laboratory projects, depending on topic. Not all topics are offered every year. With consent of instructor, may be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, twelve semester hours of upper-division coursework in biology, and consent of instructor.
- Topic 1: Basic Processes of Nerve Cells. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biology 381K (Topic 10: Basic Processes of Nerve Cells) and Neuroscience 385L (Topic 1) may not both be counted.
- Topic 3: Addiction Biology. Current research in addiction biology. Students present individual research papers and reports. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biology 381K (Topic 8: Addiction Biology) and Neuroscience 385L (Topic 3) may not both be counted.
- Topic 4: The Synaptic Basis for Learning and Memory. Abstract models and biophysical models of synaptic plasticity. Includes guest lectures from experimentalists working in this field. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 385J (Topic 38: The Synaptic Basis for Learning and Memory) and Neuroscience 385L (Topic 4) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Coursework in organic chemistry.
- Topic 5: Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. Current research in neuroendocrinology, including action of neuroendocrine systems on behavior; assays of substances in the blood to identify gene products; and the topic of stress examined from neuroendocrine, behavioral, health, and immunity perspectives. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Neuroscience 385L (Topic 5), 394P (Topic: Behavioral Neuroendocrinology), Psychology 394P (Topic: Behavioral Neuroendocrinology).
- Topic 6: Foundations of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research. Techniques and methods involved in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology; safety issues; how an MRI signal is generated; contrast and pulse sequence generation; spatial and temporal properties; design of functional MRI experiments; and analysis of MRI data. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Neuroscience 385L (Topic 6), 394P (Topic: Foundations of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research), Psychology 394P (Topic: Foundations of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research).
- Topic 7: Topics in Vision and Hearing. Current research in human vision and hearing. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Neuroscience 385L (Topic 7), 394U (Topic 2: Topics in Vision and Hearing), Psychology 394U (Topic 8: Topics in Vision and Hearing).
- Topic 8: Ion Channels and Neuronal Signaling. Molecular properties of ion channels and the mechanisms of electrical signaling in neurons and other excitable cells. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.
- Topic 9: Synaptic Physiology and Plasticity in the Central Nervous System. Detailed background in the physiology and plasticity of synaptic transmission in the mammalian central nervous system. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.
- Topic 10: Neurobiology of Synaptic Circuits. The structure and function of synapses throughout different brain systems, including learning and memory circuits and sensory perception. Analysis of differences in the ultrastructure and composition of organelles and molecules involved in synapse-specific signaling and plasticity that alters synaptic function and related behaviors. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Additional prerequisite: Coursework in organic chemistry, and neuroscience or neuroanatomy.
- Topic 11: Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience. Focuses on how the brain changes in response to altered behavioral experience, how the brain changes in adaptation to injury, and how behavioral experiences influence brain adaptation to injury. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Neuroscience 385L (Topic 11) and 394P (Topic: Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience) may not both be counted.
- Topic 12: Quantitative Methods for Brain Structure. Concepts and applications of quantitative methods for analyzing brain structure, with a focus on stereological methods. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Neuroscience 385L (Topic 12), 394P (Topic: Quantitative Methods for Brain Structure), Psychology 394P (Topic: Quantitative Methods for Brain Structure).
186. Current Research in Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience. Review and discussion of research in the field of systems and behavioral neuroscience, covering important early studies and contemporary work. One lecture hour a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and concurrent enrollment in one of the following courses: Biology 381D, Kinesiology 383T, Neuroscience 383T, Pharmacy 383T, Psychology 383T.
386S. Molecular Biology of the Nervous System. Study of the structure and function of macromolecules in the brain. Neuroscience 386S and Pharmacy 386S may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and a course in biochemistry or consent of instructor.
190, 290, 390. Research. Individual research. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and fifteen semester hours of coursework in neuroscience. Students must sign up in the Neuroscience Graduate Studies Office before registering.
390D. Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology. Laboratory experience in basic methods used in pharmacology and toxicology research. At least nine laboratory hours a week for one semester. Neuroscience 687KA and 390D may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
394P. Seminars in Neuroscience. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.
- Topic 1: Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience. Brain-behavior relationships, particularly recent research in behavioral neuroscience, including the anatomical and neurochemical mechanisms of behavioral events, and behavioral influences on the brain. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Neuroscience 394P (Topic 1) and Psychology 394P (Topic 1: Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience) may not both be counted.
- Topic 3: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. Neuroanatomical systems that are functionally related to basic forms of learning and memory in mammals. Neuroscience 394P (Topic 3) and Psychology 394P (Topic 3: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory) may not both be counted.
- Topic 4: Advanced Topics in Neuroanatomy. Neuroanatomical systems and function across species. Basic forms of neuroanatomy in mammals. Neuroscience 394P (Topic 4) and Psychology 394P (Topic 7: Advanced Topics in Neuroanatomy) may not both be counted.
- Topic 5: Cognitive Neuroscience. Focuses on the links between neural activity and behavior as simultaneously measured during the performance of sensory decision-making tasks. Includes functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments. Neuroscience 394P (Topic 5) and 394U (Topic: Cognitive Neuroscience) may not both be counted.
- Topic 6: Psychoacoustics. Anatomy and physiology of the peripheral auditory system; behavioral measures of auditory performance masking; sound localization, pitch and loudness perception, temporary and permanent hearing loss. Only one of the following may be counted: Communication Sciences and Disorders 394K (Topic 2: Psychoacoustics), Neuroscience 394P (Topic 6), 394U (Topic 1: Psychoacoustics), Psychology 394U (Topic 5: Psychoacoustics).
- Topic 7: Analysis of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data. Functional magnetic resonance imaging experimental design and analysis. Additional prerequisite: Basic knowledge of functional neuroanatomy.
- Topic 8: Advanced Topics in Systems Neuroscience. Only one of the following may be counted: Neuroscience 394P (Topic 8), 394U (Topic: Advanced Topics in Systems Neuroscience), Psychology 394U (Topic: Advanced Topics in Systems Neuroscience).
396D. Clinical Psychopharmacology. Same as Psychology 396D. Recent findings concerning the mechanisms of action and the behavioral effects of psychoactive drugs, particularly those used in psychiatry. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.
698. Thesis. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: For 698A, graduate standing in neuroscience and consent of the graduate adviser; for 698B, Neuroscience 698A.
399R, 699R, 999R. Dissertation. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree.
399W, 699W, 999W. Dissertation. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Neuroscience 399R, 699R, or 999R.