Prerequistes: NSCI 210, PSYC 375.
INSTRUCTOR: K Blackwell
Contact Information: avrama@gmu.edu, 993-4381
Office Hours: Thurs, 1:30 - 2:30 pm, or by appointment
Office Location: Krasnow Institute, Room 105
Course Objectives: This is a core neuroscience course that presents basic concepts of cellular and molecular level neuroscience. It is an in depth survey of neuronal functions, including cellular anatomy and membrane functions, electrical properties of neurons, intercellular and intracellular signaling, brain metabolism, the molecular biology of sensory processing, and cellular basis of plasticity. By the end of the course the students will have a comprehensive understanding of the molecular functioning of neurons.
Text: Neuroscience 4/e, Purves et al
Nerveworks: Computer simulations and workbook
SYLLABUS
Week 1 Chapter 1
Jan 22: Course overview, organization of the nervous system, amino acids and proteins; lecture
Jan 24: Neuron anatomy and Structure,cytoskeleton; lecture
Assignment: Nerve Works: Recording 101; week 1 homework
Week 2
Jan 29 Chapter 2:25-36; Resting potential, Nernst Equation; Measurement Techniques; lecture
Jan 31 Chapter 4:74-83; Membrane transporters; lecture
Assignment: NerveWorks: Resting Potential, Week 2 homework
Week 3
Feb 5 Chapter 2:36-37; Chapter 3: 41-49: Function of Ion channels; lecture
Feb 7 Chapter 4: 61-74; Structure of Ion Channels; lecture
Assignment: NerveWorks: Hodgkin-Huxley Action Potential, Week 3 homework
Week 4
Feb 12 Firing Patterns, Calcium channels, NerveWorks I-V relations; lecture
Feb 14 Chapter 3: 49-59; Passive propagation of potential; lecture
Assignment: NerveWorks: Passive properties, voltage clamp, Week 4 homework
Week 5
Feb 19 Potassium channels; lecture
Feb 21 Review, Commercials
Assignment: NerveWorks: Finish Passive and Voltage Clamp Basics 1 Week 5 homework
Week 6
Feb 26 Exam 1: Chapters 1-4
Feb 28 Chapter 5: 85-106; Synaptic transmission, pre-synaptic release; lecture
Assignment: take home questions, DUE Thursday, March 6
Week 7
Mar 4 Chapter 5: 106-117; Synaptic transmission, Post-synaptic receptors and potentials; lecture
Mar 6 Chapter 6: 119-151; Synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters and synthesis; lecture
Assignment: NerveWorks: synaptic potentials, DUE Tuesday, March 18; take home questions, DUE Thursday, March 20;
Week 8 Spring Break
Week 9
Mar 18 Chapter 6: 119-151; Synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters and synthesis; Continue lecture from Mar 6
Mar 20 Chapter 7: 153-163; Molecular signaling, indirect synaptic transmission; lecture
Assignment: take home questions, DUE Thursday, March 27; Nerveworks: Pay Attention, DUE Tuesday, Apr 1
Week 10
Mar 25 Chapter 7: 164-176; Molecular signaling, indirect synaptic transmission; lecture
Mar 27 Review, commercials- Rubric
Week 11
Apr 1 Exam 2: Chapters 5-7
Apr 3 Chapter 8: 177-203; Synaptic plasticity, Learning and Memory, lecture
Week 12
Apr 8 Chapter 8: 177-203; Synaptic plasticity, Learning and Memory, lecture
Apr 10 Finish Synaptic plasticity, Review synaptic transmission
Assignment: take home questions DUE April 15, Nerveworks: LTP DUE April 15
Week 13
Apr 15 Chapter 9: 207-217; Mechanotransduction (somatosensory) lecture
Apr 17 Chapter 13: 313-332; Mechanotransduction (Hearing) lecture
Assignment: take home questions DUE April 22
Week 14
Apr 22 Chapter 11: 253-286; Phototransduction (vision), lecture
Apr 24 Chapter 11: 253-286; Phototransduction (vision), lecture
Assignment: take home questions DUE April 29
Week 15
Apr 29 Commercials
May 1 Review
Tues, May 13, 10:30 - 1:15 pm Comprehensive Final Exam
GRADING
Homework 20%
Commercials 10% - Rubric
Mid-term Exams, 20%
Final Exam 30%
Exams will be multiple choice, or fill in the blank, or label a diagram - no essays.
Commercials are brief presentations (e.g. 5 minutes) by teams of one to four students.The commercial should “sell” the neuron on a particular ion channel or transporter (commercial 1), synaptic receptor or receptor channel (commercial 2), or sensory cell (commercial 3). Content counts for 33%, verbal creativity counts for 33% and visual creativity counts for 33%. Larger teams are expected to have more entertaining commercials, but content is graded the same for all teams. Students form their own teams and each student in the team receives the same grade. If students are not happy with all members of their team, the team composition can change for the second commercial. Teams of two to three students are recommended, but students who are unable to join a team, for example due to time or distance constraints, may create their own commercials. In this case, content will count for 50% and creativity for 50%.
Grading policy: A score of 90 or above generally results in a grade of A- or above, 80 or above corresponds to a B- or above, and 70 or above results in C- or above. The numerical score is only a guideline, and is not absolute. The final grades may be determined on a curve if this is to the students favor and justified in the opinion of the instructor.
Policy regarding missed assignments: Homework may be turned in at most one week late, but there will be an automatic penalty of 10% deducted from the score. If an absence from class is anticipated, homework may be emailed, faxed, or sent in on-time with another student. Make-up exams are not allowed, unless the student has written medical documentation for absence from an exam.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE DISABILITIES OFFICE AND APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE.
HONOR CODE:
All exams and reports must follow the guidelines of the GMU Honor Code as described in the GMU catalog. Students may use books, notes, and other sources in preparing for exams and reports. Other students may be consulted. However, when taking exams, no books, notes, or student interaction will be allowed. Students may work together on homework, but each student must contribute and copying is not allowed.