Professor Carol Kellogg
Office: Meliora 186, x5-4801
Office Hours: After class or by appointment
e-mail: kellogg@bcs.rochester.edu

Web: http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/courses/243.index.html

Workshop Leader: Yana Vaks
e-mail: yv001i@mail.rochester.edu

Course Intent:

This course is intended to introduce you to the field of neurochemistry. Basic neurochemistry includes study of the chemical composition of the brain, brain metabolism and the chemistry of neurotransmission. Methodological development over the latter part of the 20th century has allowed investigation down to nuclear levels. About half of the course will cover the chemistry of neural transmission and a quarter will cover chemical composition and metabolism. The discipline of behavioral neurochemistry includes topics that range from study of the neurochemical mechanisms that underlie normal behavior to behavioral sequellae that result from severe neurochemical abnormalities. These issues will be considered in the final quarter of the course in a unit designated as functional neurochemistry. However, throughout the course, the functional aspects of all neurochemical mechanisms will be discussed. An introductory knowledge of biochemistry will be helpful in understanding the material presented. NSC 201 is a prerequisite for this course.

Texts:

No single text satisfactorily covers all the material included in this course. Chapters will be assigned from the following books, all of which are on 2-hr. reserve at Carlson Library.

Basic Neurochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Medical Aspects. Sixth Edition. Siegel, G.J., Agranoff, B.W., Albers, R.W., Fisher, S.K., Uhler, M.D. (eds.), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1999. Twenty-four of the 54 chapters in this book have been assigned. You might want to purchase this book.

Neurobiology of Mental Illness, Charney, D.S., Nestler, E.J., Bunney, B.S. (eds.), Oxford University Press, 1999. Nine chapters in this book have been assigned.

The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology, Seventh Edition, Cooper, J.R., Bloom, F.E., Roth, R.H., Oxford University Press, 1996. Three chapters in this book have been assigned and three others suggested.

Other readings will be assigned and placed on electronic reserve and in Carlson Library.

Examinations:

The course is arranged into four units. An in-class exam will be given at the end of each of the first three units. A take-home exam will cover the fourth unit. The take-home exam questions will be handed out at the last class period and the exam will be due on the day that the final exam for the course is scheduled. Each exam will account for 25% of your final grade. The in-class exams involve data analysis and interpretation. The take-home exam will be an essay format and the answers will require integration of diverse material.

Course Schedule and Assigned Readings

* Additional Readings, On Reserve, Carlson Library and electonic reserve

Workshop Schedule

Workshop Leader: Yana Vaks

Workshops will be held usually on Monday or Wednesday evenings in Meliora 127, time to be arranged

Workshop 1: Week of September 16

Workshop 2: Week of September 23

Workshop 3: Week of October 7 (preferable after Oct. 8)

Workshop 4: Week of October 16

Workshop 5: Week of October 28 (Wed., Oct. 30.)

Workshop 6: Week of November 6

Workshop 7: Wednesday, December 9