Cellular Neuroscience Syllabus (NSC-4352)

Instructor: Dr. Michael P. Kilgard
Office: Jonsson JO4.304
Office Hours:  Thursday 10:45-11:45pm
Office Phone: (972) 883-2339
E-mail Address: kilgard@utdallas.edu

Teaching Assistant:  Vikram Jakkamsetti
Office: GR 4.604

E-mail Address: vxj037000@utdallas.edu

Weekly Review: GR 3.302 Tuesday 4-5pm

Class Time: Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-10:45
Class Location: GR 4.301

Required Texts: Principles of Neural Science, 4th ed. (Kandel, Schwartz & Jessell) [K]
Neuroscience, 3rd ed.  (Purves et al.) [P].
Both should be available at Off-Campus Books (Campbell Rd.) & the UTD bookstore.
Recommended text:  Neurons in Action (order from www.sinauer.com)

Course Description

This course will cover the major issues of cellular neuroscience. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular and cellular events underlying neural signaling, synaptic transmission, neural development, and plasticity will be discussed.

Assessment

Exams (90%): There will be two exams (25% each) and a cumulative final exam (40%). Exams will be multiple choice and short answer. Material for these exams will be taken from readings, class lectures and discussion, so attendance is strongly encouraged. The format of the exam questions is designed to be challenging and to encourage integrative thought about the material. Exams will be curved such that the second highest score receives 100%.

Questions (15%): One week before each exam, each student will be expected to generate 5 complete multiple-choice exam questions including multiple answers with the correct answer indicated. Up to 5 points will be earned based on the quality of the questions. Five points is guaranteed if one of your questions is used on an exam. (Note: questions may be somewhat altered.)

Final Grade: A: 105-90, B: 89-80, C: 79-70, Less than 70% is failing.
 
 


Schedule:

DATE

TOPIC

ASSIGNMENTS

8/18

Introductory lecture - Neural Perspectives

 

8/23

Intro to Neurons

Purves Ch1 (1-5); Kandell Ch2

8/25

Cytology of Neurons

Kandell Ch3

8/30

Protein Sorting

Kandell Ch4

9/1

Genes and Behavior

Purves 2

9/6

Membrane potential

Kandell Ch5

9/8

Membrane potential, con't

Kandell Ch6,

Neurons in Action (optional)

9/13

Passive Current Flow

Kandell Ch7

9/15

Action Potential 

Purves Ch3, 4

9/20

Action potential, con't

Kandell Ch8,

Neurons in Action (optional)

9/22

Catch-up

Neurons in Action (optional)

Exam Questions Due

9/27

Review for Exam

 

9/29

EXAM (25%)

 

10/4

Synaptic Release

Purves Ch5, Kandell Ch9

10/6

Neuromuscular Junction

Kandell Ch10

10/11

Synaptic Integration

Kandell Ch11,

Neurons in Action (optional)

10/13

Transmitter Release

Kandell Ch13, 15

10/18

Neurotransmitters

Purves Ch6, Kandell Ch14

10/20

Neurotransmitter Receptors and

Their Effects

Purves Ch7

10/25

Intracellular Signaling

Kandell Ch12, Purves Ch8

 

10/27

Myasthenia Gravis

Kandell Ch16,  Exam Questions Due

11/1

Review for Exam

 

11/3

EXAM (25%)

 

11/8

Synaptic Plasticity 

Kandell Ch63

11/10

Adult Plasticity and Learning

Purves Ch25

11/15

Primary Research Paper

Buonomano DV, et al Temporal information transformed into a spatial code by a neural network with realistic properties. Science. 1995 Feb 17;267(5200):1028-30. (figure 2)

11/17

Continue with Primary Research Paper

Exam Questions Due

11/22

Review for Final

 

12/1

FINAL EXAM (40%)

8:00am-10:30am

Additional papers related to temporal processing and learning: 

          Decoding temporal information: A model based on short-term synaptic plasticity.

         J Neurosci. 2000 Feb 1;20(3):1129-41.

          Context-sensitive synaptic plasticity and temporal-to-spatial transformations in hippocampal slices.

         Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Sep 16;94(19):10403-8.

(For complete papers follow the links above and click on blue box labeled ‘free full text’.)

Any schedule changes will be posted at:  www.utdallas.edu/~kilgard/cellularFALL05.htm

Click here for the Final Exam Review Outline.