NSC 243: Syllabus

Fall 2009

Time & Location

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:40 - 10:55 AM

Course Intent

This course is intended to introduce you to the field of neurochemistry. Classically, there are four cornerstones to modern neurochemistry: chemical composition and architecture, metabolic neurochemistry, chemistry of neural transmission, and methodologic development. A more recent "center stone" that links to all of the cornerstones is molecular analysis. The first three units of the course will cover these topics. 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 dysfunction. Students will cover these issues in the final quarter of the course in a unit designated as applied neurochemistry. However, throughout the course, the functional aspects of all neurochemical mechanisms will be presented. An introductory knowledge of biochemistry will be helpful in understanding the material presented. NSC 201 is a prerequisite.

Personnel

Professor Carol Kellogg
Office: Meliora 186
Telephone: 275-4801
Office Hours: After class or by appointment
e-mail:

Workshop Leader:
Aynsley Duncun
e-mail:

Reading Assignments

Basic Neurochemistry, Seventh Edition. Siegel, G.J, Albers, R.W., Brady, S.T., Price, D.L. (Eds.), Elsevier Academic Press, 2006. This is an edited book with each chapter written by different authors. Other assigned readings are on Blackboard.

Course Evaluation

The course is arranged into four units. An in-class exam will be given at the end of each of the first three units. The in-class exams involve data analysis and interpretation. Each exam will account for 25% of your final grade. Two Problem-based workshops will be held for each unit. These workshops will give you experience in working with and interpreting data. The fourth unit focuses on applying your understanding of basic neurochemistry to specific issues of function and neuropathology. Each topic in this unit will be covered in mini-symposium style with 4-6 students responsible for organizing and presenting relevant topics. The assigned readings in the book are to be used to design the symposium. Each individual participant will be responsible for a 10 min. oral presentation and a paper covering their topic. The paper will be due at the time of presentation of the symposium. The presentation, paper and overall symposium will account for 25% of the class grade.

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