NBIO 722-723
(cross listed as PHYI and PHCO 722-723)

2012-2013 Schedule (PDF file)

Course Description (PDF file)

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BLOCK 1- INTRODUCTION / ELECTRICAL SIGNALING (18 sessions) (NBIO 722A)

This first half of this block introduces such topics as brain cell biology, molecular biology applied to neurons, membrane potentials and imaging methods.  The second half of this block introduces such topics as resistance, capacitance, passive membranes, classes of ion channels, potassium and calcium channels and action potential initiation.  Fall. *Pevny, Hutton, Street, Ghuksyan, Robinson, Newbern, Brenman, Sealock, Manis and Stuber.

BLOCK 2-POSTSYNAPTIC MECHANISMS- RECEPTORS (10 sessions) (NBIO 722B)

This block covers such topics as cell and G Protein signaling, ligand binding, GABA-gated ion chanels, neurotransmitter receptor trafficking and dopamine release and receptors.  Fall. Manis, Brenman, Harden, Nicholas, Weiss, Robinson, Kash, McElligott and Stuber.

BLOCK 3-SYNAPTIC MECHANISMS AND INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING (10 sessions) (NBIO 722C)

This block introduces calcium signaling, electrophysiological analysis and molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity and expression and maintenenace of LTP and LTD.  Fall. *Philpot, Carelli, Kash, McCarthy, Wightman and Stuber.

BLOCK 4-DEVELOPMENT OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM (11 sessions) (NBIO 723A)

This block covers neural induction, neural stem cells, glial development, neural cell death and neurotrophin during development and synaptic adhesion molecules.  Spring. *Crews, Maness, Anton, Deshmukh, Pevny and Stuber.

BLOCK 5-ANATOMY AND FUNCTION OF SENSORY AND MOTOR SYSTEMS (17 sessions) (NBIO 723B)

This block introduces the sensory pathways of vision, audition, taste, olfaction, pain, and touch, as well as the motor pathways of the spinal cord, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and motor cortex.  Mechanisms of sensory information processing and motor execution are discussed.  The section includes peripheral and central mechanisms of pain. Spring. *Zylka, Manis, Fitzpatrick, Philpot, Segal, Shoemaker, Weiss and Stuber.

BLOCK 6-IMAGING AND DISEASE(12 sessions) (NBIO 723C)

This block covers CNS imaging, regeneration, and such diseases as Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, epilepsy, addiction, autism and schizophrenia. Spring. *Snider, Manis, Boettiger, Gilmore, Frohlich, McNamara, Piven and Stuber.

*denotes block head