W 12:30-6:30, GR 2.318
Instructor: Dr. Tres Thompson
Office: GR 4.814
Labs: Aging & Memory Research, MP 2.232;
Human Aging & Memory Research, GR 4.302
Phone: 883-4933; e-mail tres@utdallas.edu
Office hours: M 2-4 pm; other times by appointment
Texts: Principles of Neural Science (Kandel, Schwartz & Jessell) [K]
Neuroscience (Purves et al.) [P].
Both should be available at Off-Campus Books (Campbell Rd.) & the UTD bookstore.
Course objectives: A course in the neurosciences must take aim at a constantly
moving target. The present course covers three core areas of modern neuroscience:
(1) the functional organization of neural systems that determine the properties and
capabilities of living organisms;
(2) the cell biological properties of specific types of neurons that suit them to
(and/or limit) the specific tasks they carry out;
(3) a critical evaluation of the research methods used to assess (1) and (2).
The overall aim is to familiarize you with systems level analyses of the brain and
its function, which when fully developed should take into account all known
neurobiological and psychological data. Since no current framework meets these
comprehensive goals, you will be trained to critically evaluate current and future
theories purporting to do so. Class discussion is strongly encouraged.
Examinations: None. A short (3-7 page) written paper will serve as
your final exam. The paper will develop and summarize one of the topics covered in class.
Attendance is strongly encouraged. The texts and readings posted on-line serve
as background material for class discussion, not as a final voice of authority.
Oral presentations: All students will make an oral presentation of an original
research article published in the neuroscience literature within the last decade.
The articles used must be preapproved by the instructor, and relevant to the topic
being discussed. Presentations will be 10 minutes in length, with up to 5 minutes
allowed for followup questions and further discussion. Each presentation will graded
by all present (the mean of the evaluation of the instructor and of the average
of your fellow studentsą evaluations), rating the effectiveness of your:
1. statement of the background for the paper;
2. statement of the research question(s);
3. presentation of the research methods used;
4. presentation of the research findings;
5. clarity of your take-home message; and
6. clarity of your responses to questions/discussion.
Grading: Final course grades will be assessed based on participation, on the
oral presentations, and on the final paper. Each accounts for 1/3 of your grade.
Course schedule
Date Topics
Jun 7 intro. to neural systems
Jun 14 motor systems and control of movement
Jun 21 sensory systems 1: the outside world
Jun 28 sensory systems 2: the inside world
Jul 5 homeostasis 1: maintaining the organism
Jul 12 homeostasis 2: maintaining the species and society
Jul 19 plasticity 1: behavioral adaptation
Jul 26 plasticity 2: behavioral maladaptations
Jul 31 papers due
oral presentations--find an original paper from a peer reviewed
Neuroscience journal that is related to one of the themes (above)
for your oral presentation. CLUE: enter a topic in PubMed (a free resource
of the National Institutes of Health, accessible from my links page. This
powerful search engine will list articles matching your topic. It will also
suggest related articles, which may take you in new directions of interest!
You must bring in xeroxed copies of your paper for ALL your classmates, to be
handed out during the class meeting that precedes your talk.
This page final as of 6/7/00 at 7:30 a.m.