200 Introduction to Neuroscience. Essential Concepts & Methods (2.5 units) Fall
Instructor(s): V. Sohal Prerequisite(s): There are no prerequisites, but permission of instructor in charge is required
Restrictions: This course is intended for entering first year Ph.D. students in the Neuroscience program. Others may be admitted as space permits. Activities: Lecture, Conference, Laboratory
This course will include lectures on basic methods used for neuroscience research, laboratories that demonstrate these methods and conferences that discuss their applicability and caveats. The course is designed to prepare our entering students for laboratory rotations and the core course. The material presented should also help them understand seminars and journal clubs.
201A Basic Concepts in Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology (6 units) Fall
Instructor(s): P. Sargent, E. Huang, R. Edwards, J. Whistler, Y. Kirichok, L. Jan, K. Bender, R. Nicoll Prerequisite(s): None.
Restrictions: This course is required for first year Neuroscience students. It is open to additional students as space allows and with the approval of the instructor. Activities: Lecture, Seminar
An interdisciplinary introduction to fundamental aspects of nervous system function including neurocytology, neuroanatomy, electrical excitability, synaptic transmission, signal transduction, genetics, and neurodevelopment.
201B Basic Concepts in Neural Cell and Developmental Biology (4 units) Winter
Instructor(s): J. Chan
Activities: Lecture, Conference
Introduction to fundamental aspects of nervous system development, including neural determination, axon guidance, neuron-target interactions and overview of basics of integrative neural function, including sensory, motor and limbic systems and computational neuroscience.
201C Introduction to Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience (4 units) Spring
Instructor(s): A. Hasenstaub, M. Brainard Prerequisite(s): NC201A and NC201B or consent of course director.
Restrictions: None. Activities: Lecture, Conference
An overview of basic cell biology and neural development. Topics will include membrane trafficking, neuronal cytoskeleton, axon guidance, synapse formation, cell cycle, neuronal cell fate determination, neuronal stem cells, and patterning of the vertebrate brain.
215 Laboratory Rotation (1 - 6 units) Fall, Winter, Spring
Instructor(s): Staff Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Activities: Laboratory
A laboratory rotation course to familiarize new departmental graduate students with various approaches to neurobiological research.
219 Special Topics in Basic and Translational Neuroscience (3 units) Fall, Winter, Spring
Instructor(s): Staff Prerequisite(s): None. Completion of first year curriculum in Neuroscience or another experimental biology graduate program is helpful, but not essential.
Restrictions: Neuroscience graduate students, other graduate and professional students with interest in neuroscience. Permission from instructor is required. Activities: Lecture, Conference, Independent Study
Each course offering will focus on the literature of a current important area of Neuroscience research. Students will be expected to read assigned papers critically before class and to present and discuss papers in class. Students will also be expected to write and present a brief research proposal based upon their reading. Topics in molecular, cellular, developmental, systems & computational neuroscience, and neurological & behavioral disorders will be covered in separate course offerings.
220 Neuroscience Journal Club (1 units) Fall, Winter, Spring
Instructor(s): Staff
Activities: Seminar
Pertinent papers from the recent neuroscience literature are read and discussed. Each student must participate regularly and present one seminar per quarter.
221 Current Topics in Neuroscience (0 - 0.5 units) Fall, Winter, Spring
Instructor(s): Z. Knight Prerequisite(s): None.
Restrictions: Neuroscience graduate student, or permission from instructor. Activities: Seminar
Students will become familiarized with cutting-edge experimental findings in cellular, molecular, and systems neuroscience by attending the formal Neuroscience Seminar series, meeting and discussing related papers, and meeting with the speaker, Students will be expected to critically analyze new results and put them in context of published literature. Course meets for 10 weeks spread out over 3 quarters. Offered every year.
225 Neurobiology of Disease (3 units) Winter
Instructor(s): S. Baraban, V. Sohal Prerequisite(s): Neuroscience 201A and 201B, or consent of instructor.
Activities: Seminar
Lectures and student-led discssions on physiological and molecular bases of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, autism, addiction, triple repeat and prion diseases. Offered every three year beginning Spring 2003
243 Cognitive Neuroscience (3 units) Winter
Instructor(s): A. Gazzaley Prerequisite(s): NEUROSCI 201A, 301B, 201C or permission of course director.
Restrictions: None. Activities: Seminar
This course will cover research investigating the neural basis of cognition, primarily focusing on neurophysiological studies in humans using MRI, MEG, EEG, and TMS. Topics to be covered include visual perception, attention, memory, sensory and motor control and language. Offered every three years.
248 Analysis of Neural and Behavioral Data (3 units) Fall
Instructor(s): L. Frank Prerequisite(s): NS201A and 201B or consent of course director. Previous Matlab experience strongly suggested
Restrictions: None. Activities: Lecture, Conference, Independent Study
Lectures, critical discussions, and problem solving using Matlab, a mathematical and data visualization program. Topics may include: probability, descriptive statistics, binomial and poisson processes, analysis of spike trains, and analysis of dynamic neural and behavioral dats. Problem sets include statistical analysis and simulation of neural and behavioral data. Previous Matlab experience strongly suggested. Offered every two years beginning Spring 2004
250 Research (1 - 8 units) Fall, Winter, Spring
Instructor(s): Staff Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Dissertation research.