Core Graduate Courses in Cognitive Neuroscience

Recommended for students without a background in neuroscience

BCS 507: Basic Neurobiology: Explores fundamental concepts of neural organization and function. Covers gross and cellular neuroanatomy, neuronal cell biology, the electrophysiology of neurons and synapses, neurochemistry, spinal circuitry, sensory and motor systems, and higher functions including learning and memory. Includes labs on gross anatomy of the brain and computer simulation of neuronal electrophysiology.
BCS 507L: Basic Neurobiology Lab: This laboratory course is designed to be taken concurrently with the core lecture course, BCS 507. There are seven laboratory sessions scheduled during the semester; each section meets for two hours. The laboratory will provide hands-on experiences (brain dissection, cellular anatomy, electrophysiological recording) and demonstrations (behavioral pharmacology) to reinforce concepts introduced in the lecture course and to teach basic laboratory skills relevant to neuroscience.

Recommended for students focusing in neuroscience or seeking deeper training

BCS 508: Neural Plasticity in Learning and Development: An examination of neural plasticity in development as well as in adult learning and memory. Topics covered are approached from the joint perspectives of behavior, computational modeling, and neural mechanisms. Prerequisite: BCS 507 or equivalent.
BCS 541: Integrative and Systems Neuroscience: The course provides a critical overview of current approaches to the study of Systems Neuroscience. The topics include the discussion of connectivity, neurophysiology, and the behavioral measures of sensory and motor systems, memory and attention. Prerequisite: BCS 507 or equivalent.
NSC 512: Cellular Neuroscience: This course presents a detailed view of cellular and molecular aspects of neuroscience, and is divided into three major sections. The first section begins with an overview of the nervous system including identification and characterization of cellular components of the nervous system, and then discusses electrical signaling. Among the topics covered are development of membrane potentials and signal propogation, molecular properties of ion channels and their role in neuronal signaling, synaptic receptors and channels, signal transduction, modulation of synapses and simple memory mechanisms. The second section deals with biochemical and pharmcacological properties of synaptic receptors, neurotransmitter synthesis and transport, excitatory and inhibitory amino acids, gene regulation and protein synthesis, chromosome structure, and genetic models of human disease. The third section is concerned with development of the nervous system and includes genesis of neurons and glia, neurotrophic factors, neuronal migration, axonal pathfinding, plasticity and synaptic rearrangement, and endocrine factors in neural development. The course includes lectures, conferences, problem-solving sessions, and presentations of scientific literature.

For advanced seminars in this area of study, see BCS 541 - 549 and courses in Neuroscience.

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