2024-2025 Catalog

NSCI 20100. Neuroscience Laboratory. 100 Units.

This course has three components in series, representing (1) molecular neuroscience, (2) cellular electrophysiology, and (3) computation and psychophysics. The course meets one afternoon each week for four hours of laboratory time, including a didactic introduction. Students will be graded on their laboratory reports.

Instructor(s): J. Maunsell; E. Heckscher; M. McNulty     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Neuroscience Fundamentals sequence (NSCI 20101-NSCI 20130), Must be a Neuroscience Major

NSCI 20101. Foundations of Neuroscience. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to the broad field of neuroscience. This is a lecture-based course that aims to introduce undergraduate students to concepts and principles that explain how the nervous system is built and how it functions. Examples of thematic areas covered in lectures include: (a) cellular anatomy of the nervous system, (b) development and evolution of the nervous system, (c) sensory systems, (d) motor systems, (e) cognition and behavior.

Instructor(s): D. Freedman, P. Kratsios, M. Sheffield     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 24101, PSYC 24450

NSCI 20111. Cellular Neurophysiology. 100 Units.

This course describes the cellular and subcellular properties of neurons including passive and active electrophysiological properties and their synaptic interactions. Readings are assigned from a general neuroscience textbook.

Instructor(s): M. Sheffield, W. Wei      Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101 AND MATH 13100, MATH 15100, or MATH 16100 or consent of instructor
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 24111, PSYC 24470

NSCI 20130. Systems Neuroscience. 100 Units.

This course covers vertebrate and invertebrate systems neuroscience with a focus on the anatomy, physiology, and development of sensory and motor control systems. The neural bases of form and motion perception, locomotion, memory, and other forms of neural plasticity are examined in detail. We also discuss clinical aspects of neurological disorders.

Instructor(s): J. MacLean     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101, NSCI 20111 or consent of instructors
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 24130, PSYC 24010

NSCI 20140. Sensation and Perception. 100 Units.

What we see and hear depends on energy that enters the eyes and ears, but what we actually experience-perception-follows from human neural responses. This course focuses on visual and auditory phenomena, including basic percepts (for example, acuity, brightness, color, loudness, pitch) and also more complex percepts such as movement and object recognition. Biological underpinnings of perception are an integral part of the course.

Instructor(s): K. Ledoux     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): PSYC 20700

NSCI 20500. Neuroanatomy. 100 Units.

This course is part of the Study Abroad Neuroscience program in Paris, France. In this course, we will use an understanding of development in order to understand the neuroanatomy of the adult vertebrate nervous system. This understanding will be solidified by dissections of mammalian, fish and bird brains as well as a trip to see myriad brains at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. In the second half of the course, neuroanatomical adaptations specific to particular animals will be examined in the context of critical environmental and ecological factors. Examples include postural control in sloths, vision in marine animals and raptors, and the control of muscles of facial expression across mammalian species.

Instructor(s): P. Mason     Terms Offered: TBD. Paris Study Abroad Neuroscience Program
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment into the Paris Study Abroad Program

NSCI 20510. Evolution and the Nervous System. 100 Units.

Evolutionary neuroscience has traditionally focused on the neural bases of animal behavior (neuroethology) and employed the methods of comparative anatomy, cellular neurophysiology and behavioral neuropsychology. This course will approach neuroethology from a modern evolutionary perspective, one that integrates findings from genomics, molecular developmental biology and paleontology with insights from neuroethology. Our exploration will include the controversies over the evolutionary origin of neurons and centralized brains, the independent solutions across taxa to processing ecologically important sensory information, and recent insights into the evolution of the neocortex.

Instructor(s): C. Ragsdale     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101 and NSCI 20130, or consent of instructor
Equivalent Course(s): ORGB 30510

NSCI 21015. Biological Psychology. 100 Units.

What are the relations between mind and brain? How do brains regulate mental, behavioral, and hormonal processes; and how do these influence brain organization and activity? This course introduces the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the brain; their changes in response to the experiential and sociocultural environment; and their relation to perception, attention, behavioral action, motivation, and emotion.

Instructor(s): S. London, J. Yu     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Some background in biology and psychology.
Equivalent Course(s): PSYC 20300, CHDV 20300

NSCI 21100. Photons to Consciousness: Cellular and Integrative Brain Functions. 100 Units.

This course uses the visual system as a model to explore how the brain works. We begin by considering the physical properties of light. We then proceed to consider the mechanism of sensory transduction, cellular mechanisms of neuron to neuron communication, the operation of small neural networks, strategies of signal detection in neuron networks, and the hierarchical organization of cortical function. We conclude with visually guided behavior and consciousness.

Instructor(s): E. Schwartz     Terms Offered: Spring Winter
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101 or NSCI 20121
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 24136

NSCI 21400. Biological Clocks and Behavior. 100 Units.

This course will address physiological and molecular biological aspects of circadian and seasonal rhythms in biology and behavior. The course will primarily emphasize biological and molecular mechanisms of CNS function, and will be taught at a molecular level of analysis from the beginning of the quarter. Those students without a strong biology background are unlikely to resonate with the course material.

Instructor(s): B. Prendergast     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): A quality grade in PSYC 20300 Introduction to Biological Psychology. Additional biology courses are desirable. Completion of Core biology will not suffice as a prerequisite.
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 24248, HLTH 21750, PSYC 21750

NSCI 21510. Fundamentals of Synapses. 100 Units.

In this course, students will learn about the fundamentals of synapses, from molecular analysis to structure and function. Marine and aquatic models have historically provided a unique opportunity to investigate synaptic function due to the large size of their neurons, including the synaptic connections. Today, these synapse models are used to study basic principles of neuron-to-neuron communication (synaptic transmission), as well as disease mechanisms. In addition to lectures and discussions of key literature, this course will feature hands-on laboratory-based exercises in molecular genetics, imaging and physiology of synapses, as well as independent "discovery" projects to explore new topics in synapse biology.

Instructor(s): J. Morgan, J. Rosenthal     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into a Spring Quarter program at MBL
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 27753

NSCI 21515. Introduction to Imaging for Biological Research. 100 Units.

Many breakthroughs in science have been made possible by revolutionary advances in our ability to visualize biological processes, and recent progress in microscopy has led to important breakthroughs in understanding life at the molecular, cellular, and organismal level. In this course, we will introduce the students to basic techniques in microscopy, starting with an opportunity for students to build their own simple microscopes, and then proceeding all the way to using state-of-the-art confocal, light sheet, and electron microscopes. Students will explore the challenges of sample preparation, of imaging processes in living cells, and in the computational analysis of imaging data. Throughout the course, students will be able to design their own experiments, and undertake a student-designed research project.

Instructor(s): Wolff, C., Kerr, L.     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Second-year standing or greater (or by consent).
Note(s): Course meets for three weeks, (5-6 days/week, 8 hours per day), at Marine Biological Laboratories, in Woods Hole Massachusetts as part of Spring quarter at MBL. For more information see https://college.uchicago.edu/academics/mbl-spring-quarter-biology
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 27724

NSCI 21520. A Deep Dive into the Cell and Molecular Biology of the Brain. 100 Units.

This course will be an interactive analysis of the cell biology of neurons and glia. Central questions include how do the unique morphologies of neurons and glia shape their cell biology and how do we use different techniques to examine these cells. Other topics include: structure and function of neuronal proteins, membrane excitability, the functions of different glia types, and signaling pathways in synapse formation and development. The course will span three weeks at the Marine Biological Laboratory. Mornings will consist of lectures and critical reading/discussion of the primary literature. In the afternoon, students will perform hands-on experiments on different lab projects that put into practice the concepts and techniques discussed in class.

Instructor(s): W. Green, R. Carrillo     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the MBL Neuroscience Spring Quarter Program

NSCI 21530. Dynamic Camouflage: Behavior, Visual Perception and Neural Skin Patterning in Cephalopods. 100 Units.

This course takes an integrative approach to understanding a neurally controlled system of dynamic defense against visual predators. Camouflage is a widespread form of defense throughout the animal kingdom in every known habitat - land or sea. In the oceans, cephalopods (cuttlefish, octopus, squid) have evolved a sophisticated sensorimotor system called Rapid Adaptive Coloration, which can instantaneously change their total body appearance within a fraction of a second to range from highly camouflaged to startlingly conspicuous for a wide range of behaviors. The forms and functions of this dynamic system will be teased apart in integrative fashion in a top-down approach from ecology to organismal biology to organs, tissues and cells. The course touches on neural anatomy, sensation, visual perception (including psychophysics) and animal behavior. There are also applied biology aspects of this system that will be presented as well.

Instructor(s): R. Hanlon     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the MBL Neuroscience Spring Quarter Program
Note(s): E.
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 27752

NSCI 21600. Attention and Working Memory in the Mind and Brain. 100 Units.

This course will provide a broad overview of current work in psychology and neuroscience related to attention and working memory. We will discuss evidence for sharp capacity limits in an individual's ability to actively monitor and maintain information in an "online" mental state. Readings will be primarily based on original source articles from peer-reviewed journals, with a focus on behavioral and neural approaches for measuring and understanding these basic cognitive processes.

Instructor(s): E. Vogel, E. Awh     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): PQ: NSCI 20101 (Foundations of Neuroscience) is required for Neuroscience majors only.
Equivalent Course(s): PSYC 33830, PSYC 23820

NSCI 21610. Neuroanatomy of Cranial Nerves and Nuclei. 100 Units.

This hands-on laboratory course will cover the cranial nerves and their associated nuclei. The logic of cranial nerves, cranial nuclei, suprabulbar control, and thalamic projections will be described. The logic of predicting symptoms associated with lesions in these pathways will be explained. Students will learn how to understand and predict the clinical consequences of interruptions along cranial nerve pathways. Classes will consist of short lectures interspersed with examination and drawing of slides of stained brain sections using projection microscopes. There will be two field trips to local collections of brains and anatomical specimens.

Instructor(s): P. Mason     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment into the Paris Study Abroad Program

NSCI 21620. Structure, Circuits and Development of the Forebrain. 100 Units.

The forebrain is the largest division in the brains of mammals and birds. This course will address its structure as a laboratory exercise with slides and computer image supplementation. Our study of forebrain circuitry and development will draw on primary research papers and comprehensive reviews, and the rich research resources of the Parisian neuroscience community. Our survey will include thalamus, hypothalamus, the amygdala, and the basal ganglia, but our focus will be on the largest structure in our brains, the neocortex.

Instructor(s): C. Ragsdale     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment into the Paris Study Abroad Program

NSCI 21630. Spinal Cord and Brainstem Neuroanatomy & Disability. 100 Units.

TBD

Instructor(s): P. Mason     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment into the Paris Study Abroad Program

NSCI 21710. Introduction to Machine Learning for Biology. 100 Units.

Machine learning techniques are essential in many fields of biology that rely on large amounts of data. This course is intended to introduce key concepts in this field and illustrate their applications to biological questions. Students will learn about methods for supervised and unsupervised learning; regression and classification algorithms, and dimensionality reduction approaches. With every method we will emphasize model selection and validation on real data sets. Computational labs are an integral part of the course for students to work on applying these methods using R in the Quarto document system.

Instructor(s): D. Kondrashov     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): BIOS 20151, BIOS 20172 or BIOS 20236. STAT 22000 or equivalent.
Note(s): L. CB.
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 26122, NSCI 27710

NSCI 21750. Ethics through a Neurobiological Lens. 100 Units.

This class surveys a range of ethical dilemmas as viewed from a neurobiological perspective. Using their working knowledge of functional neuroanatomy, students will be expected to understand and articulate the reasoning behind multiple viewpoints for each topic. Then, students will be asked to discuss a particular case study that revolves around the week's topic, and write a one-page summary of what they learned from the week's discussion. For a final project, students will study one of the dilemmas presented or one of their own choosing.

Instructor(s): P. Mason     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): At least one course in the Neuroscience Major Fundamental Sequence (NSCI 20101, OR NSCI 20111, OR NSCI 20130)
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 28105

NSCI 21811. Building the Brain. 100 Units.

This course describes fundamental principles of how brains grow up from the perspective of the basic organizational unit of brains, the cell. We will detail development from the very earliest events in zygotes to post-natal refinement of synaptic connections years after birth. We will endeavor to understand how principles of neural development were discovered, abandoned, and re-discovered using the lens of history and biography. We will accomplish these goals with readings of primary literature, discussions of the tools used to discover these principles, and debates on the temerity of declaring that these principles exist.

Instructor(s): B. Kasthuri     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101 or instructor consent

NSCI 21820. Introduction to Python for Biologists & Neuroscientists. 100 Units.

This course aims to provide a basis for solving problems in biology and neuroscience using the Python Programing Language. You will learn how to utilize Jupyter notebooks to code in python. By the end of the course you will develop comfortability in utilizing key Python libraries for biological and/or neuroscience datasets. No prior knowledge of Python is expected or required.

Instructor(s): R. Dutt     Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): CB.
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 26123

NSCI 21825. Constructing consciousness: How do we go from matter to mind? 100 Units.

How does conscious awareness happen? How does it develop within our lifespans and evolve across them? What other organisms might be conscious, and what might their consciousness be like? How do the qualities of our percepts correlate with their physical causes and our mental states? In this mixed lecture and discussion course we will attempt to answer these questions by studying the neural and psychological processes involved in conscious (and unconscious!) sensory perception, along with several prominent models of the neural basis of consciousness. Requirements will include submitting weekly written responses to readings, actively participating in weekly discussions, and writing a roughly four- to seven-page final paper.

Instructor(s): R. Lange     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): PQ: One of the following courses: PSYC 20300 Biological Psychology; PSYC 20700 Sensation & Perception; NSCI 20111 Cellular Neurophysiology; or NSCI 20130 Systems Neuroscience, or by instructor consent.
Equivalent Course(s): PSYC 28990

NSCI 21900. Neuropharmacology. 100 Units.

This is a one quarter course that will explore neuronal pharmacology. Both the autonomic and central nervous system will be examined. The course has a clinical orientation. The course starts with an overview of the nervous system. In this section, we will explore the cellular aspects of neurons and their basic membrane and electrophysiological properties as will cellular and molecular aspects of synaptic transmission. The majority of the course will explore different neurotransmitter systems and drugs that interact with these systems.

Instructor(s): A. Fox     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101, NSCI 20111
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 24140

NSCI 22010. Neuroscience of Consciousness. 100 Units.

Consciousness has been considered one of great mysteries in human existence. In this course, we will begin by trying to define the term and consider the so-called "hard" and "easy" problems of consciousness. A brief history of ancient civilizations' views on mental experience will be discussed. We will then go over basic neuroscientific concepts and methods that are being used to study the neural correlates of consciousness. We will explore different states of consciousness and disruptions of consciousness in human patients. We will touch on the related problems of intentionality and free will. Finally, we will discuss prevailing scientific theories of consciousness.

Instructor(s): Hatsopoulos, Nicholas     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101

NSCI 22015. Cognitive Psychology. 100 Units.

Viewing the brain globally as an information processing or computational system has revolutionized the study and understanding of intelligence. This course introduces the theory, methods, and empirical results that underlie this approach to psychology. Topics include categorization, attention, memory, knowledge, language, and thought.

Instructor(s): S. Heald     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PSYC 20400

NSCI 22110. Molecular and Translational Neuroscience. 100 Units.

This lecture/seminar course explores the application of modern cellular and molecular techniques to clarify basic mechanisms that underlie neural development , synaptic transmission, protein trafficking, and circuit function and the dysfunction of these fundamental processes that results in neurodevelopmental disorders and age-associated neurological diseases.

Instructor(s): S. Sisodia     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Neuroscience Fundamental Series (NSCI 20101-20130)
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 24143

NSCI 22130. Psychoactive Drugs, the Brain and Behavior. 100 Units.

The goal of this course is for the students to understand how psychoactive drugs affect the brain and behavior. Understanding how these drugs work will provide students a window in the relationship between the brain and behavior. Understanding how drugs affect the brain and behavior will also enhance the students understanding of the relationship between psychoactive drugs/medications and society.

Instructor(s): H. de Wit, R. Lee, M. Xu, X. Zhuang     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): For UG: NSCI 20101, NSCI 20111 and NSCI 20130
Equivalent Course(s): NURB 32130

NSCI 22200. The Gut-Brain Axis. 100 Units.

This seminar course will take a deep dive into research exploring interactions between the gut microbiome and the brain, with a particular emphasis on the cellular and molecular neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie those interactions. Through class discussions of selected papers and critical analyses of primary data, students will develop insights into the relationships between the gut microbiome and brain development, synaptic plasticity, neuroinflammation, mental health, and neurodegenerative disease, among other areas. Students will also be prompted to consider the strengths and limitations of different methods used to study the gut-brain axis and propose future research directions using those (or related) methods. During many class sessions, students will work in small groups to prepare for and/or take turns leading discussions on assigned papers. Didactic instruction will be limited to establishing or expanding the conceptual foundation necessary to understand and carefully evaluate the assigned readings. At the end of the quarter, students will be asked to submit a short research proposal investigating questions on the gut-brain axis motivated and informed by their discussions and review of the literature.

Instructor(s): M. McNulty     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101, NSCI 20111, and NSCI 20130; Must be a Neuroscience major.

NSCI 22300. Molecular Principles of Nervous System Development. 100 Units.

This elective course provides an overview of the fundamental questions in developmental neurobiology. It is based on primary research papers and highlights key discoveries in vertebrate and invertebrate animals that advanced our understanding of nervous system development. Topics covered, among others, will include neural stem cells, neuronal specification and terminal differentiation, and circuit assembly. Dogmas and current debates in developmental neurobiology will be discussed, aiming to promote critical thinking about the field. This advanced-level course is open to upper level undergraduate and graduate students and combines lectures, student presentations, and discussion sections. Neuroscience major undergrads need to have completed the Fundamentals of Neuroscience sequence.

Instructor(s): E. Grove, P. Kratsios     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): For undergrads: NSCI 20110, 20120, 20130 and a basic understanding of Genetics, or "BIOS 20187" (Fundamentals of Genetics) is recommended, but not required.
Equivalent Course(s): CPNS 32300, NURB 32300, DVBI 32300

NSCI 22400. Neuroscience of Seeing. 100 Units.

This course focuses on the neural basis of vision, in the context of the following two questions: 1. How does the brain transform visual stimuli into neuronal responses? 2. How does the brain use visual information to guide behavior? The course covers signal transformation throughout the visual pathway, from retina to thalamus to cortex, and includes biophysical, anatomical, and computational studies of the visual system, psychophysics, and quantitative models of visual processing. This course is designed as an advanced neuroscience course for undergraduate and graduate students. The students are expected to have a general background in neurophysiology and neuroanatomy.

Instructor(s): W. Wei, J. Maunsell, M. Sherman, S. Shevell     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101 and NSCI 20111, or consent of instructor
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 24133, PSYC 34133, NURB 34133, PSYC 24133, CPNS 34133

NSCI 22415. Introduction to Learning and Memory. 100 Units.

This course examines basic questions in learning and memory. We discuss the historical separation and division of these two areas as well as the paradigmatic differences in studying learning and memory. We also discuss basic research methods for investigating learning and memory and survey established and recent research findings, as well as consider several different kinds of models and theories of learning and memory. Topics include skill acquisition, perceptual learning, statistical learning, working memory, implicit memory, semantic vs. episodic memory, and memory disorders.

Instructor(s): A. Bakkour     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PSYC 23800, EDSO 23800

NSCI 22420. The Neuroscience of Memory and its Disorders. 100 Units.

This course examines contemporary theories of brain mechanisms that support our ability to remember and how disruption of these mechanisms produces clinical memory disorders. We will discuss three major concepts through which modern research on memory is organized: the concept of distinct brain systems that support memory (memory systems), the concept of brain reorganization as the biological basis of memories (neuroplasticity and the engram), and the concept that memories actively change over time (consolidation and forgetting). For each of these concepts, we will discuss the historical development, evaluate relevant neuroscience research, and explore implications for understanding memory impairments caused by neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, brain trauma, epilepsy, and others.

Instructor(s): J. Voss     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101, NSCI 20111 and NSCI 20130. Or consent of instructor.

NSCI 22450. Conquest of Pain. 100 Units.

This course examines the biology of pain and the mechanisms by which anesthetics alter the perception of pain. The approach is to examine the anatomy of pain pathways both centrally and peripherally, and to define electrophysiological, biophysical, and biochemical explanations underlying the action of general and local anesthetics. We discuss the role of opiates and enkephalins. Central theories of anesthesia, including the relevance of sleep proteins, are also examined.

Instructor(s): K. Ruskin     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Three quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence, CHEM 2200-22100-22200 or BIOS 20200 and prior course in neurobiology or physiology is recommended.
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 24217

NSCI 22460. Anatomy of Selected Brain Circuits. 100 Units.

The course will provide an introduction to the anatomy and function of specific brain circuits. Students will participate in the dissection of human and sheep brains to uncover and describe gross-anatomical connectivity patterns of brain areas involved in cognition, learning, emotion, and movement control. We will use histological and microscopic techniques to visualize and describe circuits and specific types of neurons within these circuits. The course will further introduce students to the latest EM/histological reconstruction techniques.

Instructor(s): C. Hansel     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101, NSCI 20130 or consent of instructor

NSCI 22520. Mind, Brain and Meaning. 100 Units.

What is the relationship between physical processes in the brain and body and the processes of thought and consciousness that constitute our mental life? Philosophers and others have puzzled over this question for millennia. Many have concluded it to be intractable. In recent decades, the field of cognitive science--encompassing philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, linguistics, and other disciplines--has proposed a new form of answer. The driving idea is that the interaction of the mental and the physical may be understood via a third level of analysis: that of the computational. This course offers a critical introduction to the elements of this approach, and surveys some of the alternative models and theories that fall within it. Readings are drawn from a range of historical and contemporary sources in philosophy, psychology, linguistics, and computer science. (B) (II)

Instructor(s): Jason Bridges; Leslie Kay; Chris Kennedy     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): PSYC 26520, PSYC 36520, PHIL 36520, COGS 20001, LING 36520, LING 26520, PHIL 26520

NSCI 22535. The Psychology and Neurobiology of Stress. 100 Units.

This course explores the topic of stress and its influence on behavior and neurobiology. Specifically, the course will discuss how factors such as age, gender, and social context interact to influence how we respond to stressors both physiologically and behaviorally. The course will also explore how stress influences mental and physical health.

Instructor(s): G. Norman     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): CHDV 25750, PSYC 25750

NSCI 22600. Cognition and Overcoming its Limits. 100 Units.

The brains of humans and animals are remarkably flexible. We can juggle many tasks, sort through a barrage of information vying for our attention, become an expert in a vocation or hobby of choice, and remember a large amount of information while responsibly forgetting that which is unimportant. But cognition also has limited capacity, and humans expend a lot of effort trying to enhance that capacity in health and disease. This course will examine the neural mechanisms that enable and limit cognitive processes like learning, memory and decision making. We will also study behavioral and clinical efforts to enhance cognition in health and disease. These topics are very active areas of research, with new discoveries published every week. We will therefore focus on the primary literature. Each class will contain a discussion of an original research article, a wider ranging conversation about related issues and findings, and an overview of the next topics. We will focus on studies that use animal models to relate the activity of neurons to cognition and on behavioral and imaging work in humans. Students will gain experience reading and critiquing original research, presenting research findings to their peers, relating current research to a body of knowledge, and, through a culminating project, using writing or another medium to communicate neuroscience findings to a broad audience.

Instructor(s): M. Cohen     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20101-NSCI 20130, or consent of instructor
Equivalent Course(s): PSYC 22620

NSCI 23400. Synaptic Physiology. 100 Units.

This course covers the basic principles of synaptic transmission and plasticity using a combination of lecture and discussion of primary literature. Lecture topics cover membrane electrical phenomena that lead to release of neurotransmitter presynaptically, as well as the physilogical consequences of postsynaptic receptor activation. Paper discussions, which make up ~ 2/3 of the course, are centered on two major topics: 1) The molecular machinery controlling synaptic vesicle exocytosis and recycling, and 2) Synaptic plasticity covering LTP, LTD, Metaplasticity, Spike-timing dependent plasticity and Homeostatic plasticity. There is significant emphasis on the connections between the various forms of synaptic modification and behavior.

Instructor(s): D. McGehee      Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Upper undergrads by consent of instructor
Equivalent Course(s): NURB 32400

NSCI 23480. Neurogenetics. 100 Units.

This course introduces human and mouse genetics through the lens of neurological disorders. It starts with genetic concepts and the principles of genetic approaches, followed by human genetic studies of neocortex development and original findings in repeat expansion diseases. We will discuss concurrent concepts in genetic diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. This course is open to graduate and upper-level undergraduate students. It combines lectures and discussion sections.

Instructor(s): X. Zhang     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): BIOS 20187, NSCI 20101, or consent of instructor
Equivalent Course(s): HGEN 33480, NURB 33480

NSCI 23500. Survey of Systems Neuroscience. 100 Units.

This lab-centered course teaches students the fundamental principles of vertebrate nervous system organization. Students learn the major structures and the basic circuitry of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. Somatic, visual, auditory, vestibular and olfactory sensory systems are presented in particular depth. A highlight of this course is that students become practiced at recognizing the nuclear organization and cellular architecture of many regions of brain in rodents, cats and primates.

Instructor(s): Oswald, A. M.     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 20100, NSCI 20111, NSCI 20130.
Note(s): Undergrads by consent only
Equivalent Course(s): CPNS 30116, NURB 31600, ORGB 32500

NSCI 23700. Methods in Computational Neuroscience. 100 Units.

Topics include (but are not limited to): relating neural data to behavior, Signal Detection theory, models of vision and artificial neural networks, Information Theory, Generalized Linear Models, dimensionality reduction, classification, and clustering.

Instructor(s): M. Kaufman     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): For Neuroscience Majors: NSCI 20130, BIOS 26210 and BIOS 26211 which must be taken concurrently, or consent of instructor.
Note(s): CB.
Equivalent Course(s): CPNS 34231, BIOS 24231, PSYC 24231

NSCI 23810. Neurons and Glia: A Cellular and Molecular Perspective. 100 Units.

This course will be an interactive, in-depth analysis of the cell biology of neurons and glia. We will learn and discuss the latest techniques used, for example, to study the structure and function of neuronal proteins. In this way we will illuminate the central concepts that define our understanding of the cell and molecular biology of neurons and glia. The course will consist of lectures and critical reading of contemporary literature.

Instructor(s): R. Carrillo; W. Green     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Neuroscience Majors: NSCI 20101-20130 (Fundamental Neuroscience Sequence) Biological Sciences Majors: NSCI 20101-20130, or three quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence
Equivalent Course(s): NURB 34810, BIOS 24251

NSCI 23815. Advanced Topics in Human Neuroimaging. 100 Units.

This course will discuss advanced topics in human neuroimaging, reviewing recent papers using state-of-the-art methods, including multi-voxel pattern analysis, Big Data, connectivity analyses, and inter-subject correlations. We will discuss how these new methods fit into the current landscape of human neuroscience and support new theoretical ideas, and also conduct tutorials so students can use these methods in their own analyses.

Instructor(s): W. Bainbridge, M. Rosenberg     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): The course will be geared towards PhD students, but open to MA students and undergraduates who receive instructor permission to enroll.
Equivalent Course(s): PSYC 42350

NSCI 24000. Modeling and Signal Analysis for Neuroscientists. 100 Units.

The course provides an introduction into signal analysis and modeling for neuroscientists. We cover linear and nonlinear techniques and model both single neurons and neuronal networks. The goal is to provide students with the mathematical background to understand the literature in this field, the principles of analysis and simulation software, and allow them to construct their own tools. Several of the 90-minute lectures include demonstrations and/or exercises in Matlab.

Instructor(s): W. van Drongelen     Terms Offered: Spring. L.
Prerequisite(s): Undergraduates: Biology Major - BIOS 26210 and 26211, or consent of instructor. Neuroscience Major - NSCI 20130, BIOS 26210 and 26211, or consent of instructor.
Note(s): CB.
Equivalent Course(s): CPNS 32111, BIOS 24408

NSCI 27710. Introduction to Machine Learning for Biology. 100 Units.

Machine learning techniques are essential in many fields of biology that rely on large amounts of data. This course is intended to introduce key concepts in this field and illustrate their applications to biological questions. Students will learn about methods for supervised and unsupervised learning; regression and classification algorithms, and dimensionality reduction approaches. With every method we will emphasize model selection and validation on real data sets. Computational labs are an integral part of the course for students to work on applying these methods using R in the Quarto document system.

Instructor(s): D. Kondrashov     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): BIOS 20151, BIOS 20172 or BIOS 20236. STAT 22000 or equivalent.
Note(s): L. CB.
Equivalent Course(s): NSCI 21710, BIOS 26122

NSCI 29100. Neuroscience Thesis Research. 100 Units.

Scholar or Research Thesis.

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Autumn,Spring,Summer,Winter
Prerequisite(s): By consent of instructor and approval of major director.

NSCI 29101. Neuroscience Thesis Research II. 100 Units.

Second quarter of scholarly or research thesis that follows NSCI 29100

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Autumn Spring Summer Winter
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 29100, and consent of instructor, and approval of major director.

NSCI 29102. Neuroscience Thesis Research III. 100 Units.

Third quarter of scholarly or research thesis for BS students

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Autumn Spring Summer Winter
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 29101, and consent of instructor, and approval of major director.

NSCI 29200. Neuroscience Honors Thesis Research. 100 Units.

Scholar or Research Thesis.

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): By consent of instructor and approval of major director. Open to Neuroscience majors who are candidates for honors in Neuroscience.

NSCI 29201. Neuroscience Honors Thesis Research II. 100 Units.

Second quarter of BS Honors student thesis research

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 29200, and consent of instructor, and approval of major director. Open to Neuroscience majors who are candidates for honors in Neuroscience.

NSCI 29202. Neuroscience Honors Thesis Research III. 100 Units.

Third quarter of BS Honors student thesis research

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): NSCI 29201, and consent of instructor, and approval of major director. Open to Neuroscience majors who are candidates for honors in Neuroscience.

NSCI 29700. Reading and Research in Neuroscience. 100 Units.

BA Students can do reading and research in an area of neuroscience under the guidance of a faculty member. A written report is required at the end of the quarter.

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Autumn Spring Summer Winter
Prerequisite(s): By consent of instructor and approval of NSCI Undergraduate Director.
Note(s): Must be a Bachelor of Arts student. Students are required to submit the College Reading & Research form.