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Program of Study
Graduate Courses
The Graduate Group offers as much flexibility as possible to students as
they develop their scientific interests, while emphasizing the development
of students into well-rounded neuroscientists. The required first-year core
course is designed to provide a survey of the major issues and techniques
in modern neuroscience, from molecules to cognition. In their second year,
students are encouraged to build on their core neuroscience foundation by
taking upper level graduate elective courses and specialty courses offered
at other universities. Individual course selections are arranged in consultation
with the Graduate Group Master Advisor in the first year, and then with
the student's thesis advisor thereafter. Formal course work is usually finished
by the end of the second year.
Required Neuroscience Core Curriculum (First Year)
NSC 221 Cellular Neurophysiology
Fall: Lecture--3 hours; Discussion--1 hour. Physiological aspects
of cellular and subcellular organization of the nervous system. Neuronal
cell biology, the structure and function of ion channels, electrical excitability,
signaling cascades, sensory transduction and, mechanisms of synaptic transmission,
and the cellular basis of learning and memory. Instructors: Trimmer, Chen
2008-09:
T, W, Th, 9:30-11, TBA
NSC 201 Neuroanatomy
Fall: Lecture--2 hours; Lab/Discussion--1 hour. Lectures, demonstrations,
and dissections, emphasizing functional significance of neuroanatomy from
a biological perspective, with comparisons between human and non-human
brains. Emphasis placed on functional anatomy of the nervous system, integrated
with cellular, molecular, cognitive, and developmental concepts. Instructors:
Jones, Amaral, Chapman, Cheng, Usrey
2008-09: T, W, Th, 1:10-2:00,
320 Medical Neurosciences Building
NSC 222 Systems Neuroscience
Winter: Lecture--4 hours; Discussion--1 hour. Advanced course covering
the integrative and information-processing aspects of nervous system organization.
Topics include sensory systems, motor function, sensorimotor integration,
the limbic system, and the neurobiology of learning and memory. Instructors:
Ditterich, DeBello
2008-09:
T,Th 9-10:15; W 9-11:30 320 Medical
Neurosciences Building
NSC 223 Cognitive Neuroscience
Spring: Lecture--3 hours; Discussion--1 hour. Neurobiological bases
of higher mental function including attention, memory, language. Instructors:
T. Swaab, G. Mangun
2008-09:
TBA, Center for Mind and Brain
NSC 224A Molecular
Neuroscience
Winter: Lecture--2 hours. Key issues in developmental and molecular
neurobiology. Discussion emphasis on critical evaluation of the experiments
and methods described in research papers. Readings of seminal, primary
research papers, reviews, and book chapters. Reading materials will be
distributed one week in advance. Instructors: Diaz, L'Etoile
2008-09:
F, 9:00-11:00, 320
Medical Neurosciences Building
NSC 224B Developmental
Neuroscience
Spring: Lecture--2 hours. Continuation of NSC 224A: Key issues
in developmental and molecular neurobiology, focusing on developmental
topics. Discussion emphasis on critical evaluation of experiments and
methods described in associated literature. Instructors: Chapman, McAllister
2008-09:
TBA
Elective Courses Offered though the Neuroscience Graduate Group (Second
Year)
NSC
243 - Topics in Cellular and Behavioral Neurobiology
Lecture/ Discussion1 hour. An advanced examination of several current
problems in neurobiology. Topics will vary in different years; may be
repeated for credit. Instructor: Ishida
NSC 261A - Topics in Vision
Lecture/discussion -2hours. Visual system functions and underlying mechanisms.
Emphasis on recent research and pertinent aspects of anatomy, biochemistry,
electrophysiology, psychophysics, development and genetics. Topics may
vary each year. Offered every other year. Instructor: Ishida
NSC 298A - Advanced Cellular Neurobiology
Lecture/ Discussion. This course covers selected topics in neurophysiology,
from ion channels to simple circuits, for students with a major interest
in cellular neuroscience. Topics to be covered include channel biophysics,
action potential propagation, intracellular signal transduction pathways,
synaptic physiology and quantal analysis, cellular mechanisms of synaptic
plasticity, and neuromodulation of synaptic circuitry. Instructors: Burns,
Chen, and Mulloney
NSC 220 - Seminar Speaking
Lecture/ Presentations-3 hours. Each student will present a formal, 45-minute
seminar (using power point or slides) to members of the Center for Neuroscience.
Students are encouraged to present 2 seminars, each in consecutive quarters.
Seminar topics are student-selected, and must be discussed with the instructor
prior to selection. Offered winter and spring quarters. Instructor: K.
McAllister and W. DeBello
2008-09:
Winter: TBA; Spring TBA
NSC/NPB 216- Ion Channels
Lecture3 hours. Graduate level course on properites of ion channels.
Offered alternating years. Instructor: Pappone
MED 420- Clinical Neuroscience
Fred Gorin is the new IOR for this course, starting this quarter. This
is a good class to learn about different neurological diseases, their
etiologies, and their treatments. A variety of lecturers parades through,
of varying quality. But most should be good. I highly recommend at least
checking out the schedule and seeing if any lectures interest you.
NPB 270. How to Write a Fundable Grant Proposal
Lecture/discussion--3 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing in a life
science and consent of instructor. Familiarization with the skills required
to craft a successful grant proposal submitted to extramural agencies
such as NIH and NSF. Instructor: Chalupa
NPB 292. Cortical Plasticity and Perception
Lecture/discussion--2 hours. Examination of research articles on cortical
plasticity and changes in perception. Examples drawn from studies of the
somatosensory, visual, auditory, and motor cortex. Offered in alternate
years. Instructor: Recanzone.
NPB 263. Modeling in Systems Neuroscience
Lecture--3 hours; lecture/laboratory--1 hour. Modeling as a tool in systems
neuroscience. Mathematical techniques will be introduced and used to explore
advanced topics in echolocation, sound localization, electroreception,
communications, and motor systems. Other topics include transforms, modeling
assumptions, scales and linearity. Offered in alternate years. Instructor:
Sutter
NPB 163. Information Processing Models in Neuroscience and Psychology
Lecture--3 hours; term paper. Basic mathematical modeling techniques used
in neuroscience and psychology. Specific topics include linear systems
theory, Fourier transforms, neural networks, adaptive systems, probabilistic
inference and information theory. Emphasis on understanding information
processing in neural systems. Instructors: Sutter
Elective Courses Offered by other Departments
Specialty Courses
Students are also encouraged to take specialty courses offered during
the summers at a number of sites across the country. These courses are
often specialized and expose students to experts in a particular field
of research. For example, 4 of our students participated in the "Structure,
Function, and Development of the Visual System" 2001 Summer Course at
Cold Spring Harbor Labs.
Links to Specialty Courses:
Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory
Marine
Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole
Friday
Harbor Laboratory
Bodega Marine Laboratory
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