Courses of Study
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An interdepartmental program in Neuroscience
Last updated: August 22, 2011 at 10:37 a.m.
The major in neuroscience is designed to provide an interdisciplinary program of study of the neural mechanisms involved in the control of human or animal behavior. The major combines a strong foundation in basic science with more specialized courses in biology and psychology. This program is especially appropriate for students wishing to pursue further study in medicine, experimental psychology, or neuroscience.
Graduate Program in Neuroscience
The graduate program in neuroscience, leading to the MS and PhD degrees, is designed to equip students with the advanced knowledge and training necessary to conduct research in this interdisciplinary field. The program comprises three broadly defined areas: behavioral neuroscience involves work with humans in neuropsychology, experimental cognitive neuroscience, sensory psychophysics, animal behavior and electrophysiology; cellular and molecular neuroscience provides training in electrophysiology, molecular biology, biophysics, and biochemistry appropriate to neurobiology; and computational and integrative neuroscience trains students in the use of experimental and theoretical methods for the analysis of brain function. A typical program for the PhD student will consist of laboratory rotations and dissertation research as well as formal courses. Students pursuing the MS degree typically take graduate-level courses and do either laboratory research or an in-depth library-based thesis.
Neuroscience is the study of the brain. The methods of Neuroscience come from biology, biochemistry and psychology. The goal of Neuroscience is to understand how networks of neurons can account for behavior. Neuroscience has practical applications in medicine – particularly for mental illnesses, addiction, stroke and communication disorders. Neuroscience has important implications for psychiatry, psychology, teaching and economics.
Knowledge
All neuroscience majors will demonstrate knowledge of the basic electrical, anatomical and dynamic properties of neurons and the way they function in networks.
Major topics include:
- the structure and function of ion channels
- the way in which channels produce neural activity
- the properties of neurotransmitter systems and their pharmacology
- the properties and anatomical location of brain circuits responsible for particular functions
- the properties of synapses and the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity that underlie learning
- the developmental principles that lead to the formation of brain networks
- the basis of neural codes by which neurons communicate
- the causes and mechanisms of various neurological disorders
- the basic properties of memory, perception and motor control
Skills
Students who major in neuroscience will have the opportunity to acquire skills in:
1. Experimental laboratory work. Examples of general skills include pipetting and gel electrophoresis. More specific skills may be acquired by working in a research laboratory. These skills include brain dissection, tissue culture of neurons, techniques in optical and electron microscopy, and techniques in electrophysiology.
2. Quantitative methods. The ability to select and carry out appropriate statistical tests is necessary for any scientific research. Students interested in pursuing a research career should be able to use the scientific programming language, Matlab, to analyze data.
3. Critical thinking. The ability to form a hypothesis and then devise experiments to test that hypothesis is an important aspect of the scientific method. Students will also learn how to search, select from and evaluate scientific literature.
4. Presentation of ideas. Students will learn how to produce convincing written/oral arguments.
Social Justice
Scientific advances have produced profound changes in society and raised questions whose resolution depends on scientific literacy. Neuroscience training will equip students with the background to understand controversies related to their field (e.g. what is the meaning of “brain-dead”?).
Upon graduation
Neuroscience graduates have a wide range of career options open to them, such as medicine, work in the pharmaceutical industry, academic research, teaching, journalism and patent law.
Students currently enrolled in other programs at Brandeis may elect to switch over to obtain a neuroscience PhD if they have already met or will meet the degree requirements for the neuroscience degree.
(Biology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Jeffrey Agar
(Chemistry; Rosenstiel Center; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Susan Birren, Dean of Arts and Sciences
(Biology; National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Paul DiZio
(Psychology; Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Irving Epstein
(Chemistry; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
József Fiser
(Psychology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Paul Garrity
(Biology; National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Leslie Griffith
(Biology; National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Angela Gutchess
(Psychology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Lizbeth Hedstrom
(Biology; on leave academic year 2011-2012)
Donald Katz, Graduate Advising Head
(Psychology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
James Lackner
(Psychology; Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Eve Marder
(Biology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Paul Miller, Undergraduate Advising Head
(Biology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Sacha Nelson
(Biology; National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Daniel Oprian
(Biochemistry; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Suzanne Paradis
(Biology; National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Joan Press, Senior Honors Coordinator
(Biology; Rosenstiel Center)
Dagmar Ringe
(Biochemistry; Chemistry; Rosenstiel Center)
Avital Rodal
(Biology, Rosenstiel Center)
Nicolas Rohleder
(Psychology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Michael Rosbash
(Biology; National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Robert Sekuler
(Psychology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Piali Sengupta
(Biology; National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Gina Turrigiano
(Biology; National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Stephen Van Hooser
(Biology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Arthur Wingfield
(Psychology; Director, Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Jutta Wolf
(Psychology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Affiliated Faculty (contributing to the curriculum, advising and administration of the department or program)
Jeffrey Agar (Chemistry)
Susan Birren (Biology)
Irving Epstein (Chemistry)
József Fiser (Psychology)
Paul Garrity (Biology)
Leslie Griffith (Biology)
Angela Gutchess (Psychology)
Lizbeth Hedstrom (Biology)
Donald Katz (Psychology)
James Lackner (Psychology)
John Lisman (Biology)
Eve Marder (Biology)
Paul Miller (Biology)
Sacha Nelson (Biology)
Suzanne Paradis (Biology)
Gregory Petsko (Biochemistry)
Dagmar Ringe (Biochemistry)
Nicolas Rohleder (Psychology)
Michael Rosbash (Biology)
Robert Sekuler (Psychology)
Piali Sengupta (Biology)
Gina Turrigiano (Biology)
Arthur Wingfield (Psychology)
Jutta Wolf (Psychology)
A. All students majoring in neuroscience are required to take courses in the following four groups:
1. Core courses (two required courses)
2. Neuroscience electives (see Option I or Option II)
3. Basic science electives (see Option I or Option II)
4. Laboratory courses
Specific requirements for neuroscience and basic science electives are described below under Option I, leading to a BA in neuroscience, or Option II, leading to a BS in neuroscience. The core courses and the neuroscience and basic science elective courses that satisfy the requirements for the degree are listed in “B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors”.
Among courses offered to fulfill the requirements for the major, no course may be taken pass/fail and no more than one grade of D in a semester course will be allowed. A grade of D is not allowed for core courses.
Option I: The BA Degree in Neuroscience
The standard neuroscience option is designed to provide students with a general background in neuroscience. In addition to the core courses required of all candidates, students must take six semester courses from the courses listed as neuroscience electives in "B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors" with at least two courses selected from Group 1 and two from Group 2. Candidates for the BA must also take at least nine semester courses listed as basic science electives in "B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors" and must enroll in all laboratories that accompany neuroscience and basic science electives used to satisfy these requirements.
Option II: The BS Degree in Neuroscience
The BS program is an intensive neuroscience option designed to provide students with a strong background in neuroscience and associated areas. In addition to the core courses required of all candidates, students must take seven semester courses from the courses listed as neuroscience electives in "B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors" with at least two courses selected from Group 1 and two from Group 2. Candidates for the BS must also take at least ten semester courses listed as basic science electives in "B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors". Students must enroll in all laboratories that accompany neuroscience and basic science electives used to satisfy these requirements.
B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors
Core Courses
All students are required to take:
1. NBIO 140b (Principles of Neuroscience), the core course in neurobiology.
2. At least one core course in quantitative methods: BIOL 51a (Biostatistics), BIOL 135B (Principles of Biological Modeling), NBIO 136b (Computational Neuroscience), NPHY 115a (Dynamical Systems, Chaos, and Fractals), NPSY 137b (Cognitive Modeling), PSYC 51a (Statistics), PSYC 210a (Advanced Psychological Statistics), QBIO 110a (Numerical Modeling of Biological Systems), or PHYS 105a (Biological Physics). A course taken to satisfy the quantitative method requirement cannot also count as an elective course.
Neuroscience Electives
Group 1: NBIO 123b (Population Genetics/Genomics), 136b (Computational Neuroscience), 143b (Developmental Neurobiology), 145b (Systems Neuroscience), 146a (Neurobiology of Disease), 147a (Neurogenetics), 148b (Cellular Neuroscience), 150a (Autism and Human Developmental Disorders), 157a (Project Laboratory in Neurobiology and Behavior), BIOL 149b (Molecular Pharmacology), NPHY 115a (Dynamical Systems, Chaos, and Fractals), QBIO 110a (Numerical Modeling and Biological System), QBIO 120b (Quantitative Biology Instrumentation Laboratory).
Group 2: NPSY 11b (Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience), 12a (Sensory Processes), 16a (Motor Control), 17a (Hand and Brain), 22b (Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience), 120b (Man in Space), 125a (Advanced Topics in Perception and Adaptation), 128b (Motor Control, Orientation, and Adaptation), 137b (Cognitive Modeling), 141a (Stress, Physiology, and Health), 154a (Human Memory), 159a (Advanced Topics in Episodic Memory), 168b (Electrophysiology of Human Memory), 174b (Visual Cognition), 175b (The Neuroscience of Vision), 196b (Advanced Topics in Cognition), 197a (Advanced Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience), 199a (Human Neuropsychology).
Group 3: BCHM 100a (Introductory Biochemistry), 101a (Advanced Biochemistry: Enzyme Mechanisms), BIOL 22a (Genetics and Molecular Biology), 22b (Cell Structure and Function), 42a (Physiology), 50b (Biology of Behavior), 103b (Mechanisms of Cell Functions), 105b (Molecular Biology), 107a (Data Analysis and Statistics Workshop), 111a (Developmental Biology), 135b (Principles of Biological Modeling).
A student who has completed two courses in both Groups 1 and 2 may petition to substitute NEUR 99a and b (Senior Research) or NEUR 99a and 99e (Senior Research) for one of the remaining two courses. Please see "C. Senior Research and Honors Program" for specifics of the NEUR 99 offerings.
Basic Science Electives
The basic science electives include BIOL 22a, BIOL 22b, MATH 10a, MATH 10b, and all courses numbered 10 and above in chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics that meet the requirement for that major. Courses numbered below 10 may not be included in this group. Two-credit laboratory courses are counted as one-half of a regular semester course and 4-credit laboratory courses will be counted as a full semester course.
Laboratory Requirement
The basic science elective requirement must be fulfilled with at least 3 full semester course credits of laboratory work.
All science laboratory courses, including project labs such as BIOL 155a can count toward the lab requirement. AP credit does not count toward the lab requirement.
Double-Counting Electives
BIOL 22a and BIOL 22b may count toward either Group 3 electives or basic science electives, but not both. A course taken to satisfy the quantitative method requirement cannot also count as an elective course.
C. Senior Research and Honors Program
Seniors can receive credit for senior research in neuroscience by petitioning the neuroscience honors coordinator during the fall of their senior year. Candidates must enroll in NEUR 99a and 99b or 99e to carry out a senior research project and submit a thesis. Candidates interested in honors must state this in their petition and also present an oral defense of their thesis.
Undergraduate students majoring in Neuroscience may be admitted to a four-year BS/MS program upon recommendation by the faculty research sponsor and approval by the Neuroscience Undergraduate Advising Head and the Graduate School. BS/MS candidates must do senior honors research, i. e., take two semesters of NEUR 99 and receive departmental honors. Additional courses must be taken. The student must meet in their junior year with the Neuroscience Undergraduate Advising Head to receive approval to apply to the Graduate School for the BS/MS program. Application to the Graduate School must be made by May 1 preceding the senior year. For specific details about the BS/MS requirements, see http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/undergrad/neuro/bsms.html.
Graduate students will be eligible for an MS in neuroscience if they complete six graduate-level courses in neuroscience. The six courses must include NBIO 140b and one laboratory or research-based course, with the balance of courses to be agreed upon with the program advisor. A grade of B- or better must be obtained in each course. The laboratory research based course should be chosen in consultation with program advisor from NEUR 300d, NEUR 298a or BIOL 155a and is typically taken in the spring. All students are required to take CONT 300b (Ethical Practice in Health-Related Sciences), usually offered in the spring. All students should enroll in NBIO 306d (Topics in Neurobiology). Students must receive grades of B- or better in all courses. Students may be asked to leave the program at the end of the first semester if the student’s progress is found to be unsatisfactory by the graduate committee.
Residence Requirement
The minimum residence requirement for the MS degree is one year.
NBIO 140b (Principles of Neuroscience) is required, along with at least five additional graduate-level courses relevant to the student's area of interest. First- and second-year students shall enroll in NBIO 250d (Neuroscience Proseminar) and all students should enroll in NBIO 306d (Topics in Neurobiology). All students are required to take CONT 300b (Ethical Practice in Health-Related Sciences), typically in the spring of their first year.
The suggested schedule of course work for the first two years is the following:
First Year
Fall: NBIO 140b, NBIO 148b, NBIO 250d, NEUR 300d, and NBIO 306d.
Spring: CONT 300b, NBIO 145b, NBIO 146a, NBIO 250d, NEUR 300d, NBIO 306d, and one course selected from the neuroscience electives.
Second Year
Fall: NBIO 250d, NBIO 306d, and one course selected from the neuroscience electives.
Spring: NBIO 250d, NBIO 306d, and one course selected from the neuroscience electives.
Qualifying Examinations
This consists of two written propositions with accompanying oral exams. One of these shall be in the field of neuroscience, but not directly related to the student's thesis work (end of first year), and the other takes the form of a formal thesis proposal (beginning of the third year).
Teaching Requirement
As part of their PhD training, students act as teaching fellows for two semesters, typically in their second year.
Residence Requirement
The minimum residence requirement is three years.
Dissertation and Final Oral Examination
A thesis in the field of neuroscience is required for the PhD, normally carried out in the laboratory of one of the members of the neuroscience training faculty. After submission of the dissertation, the candidate gives a public seminar to the university community and then defends the work and its significance in an examination before a thesis committee.
Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience with Specialization in Quantitative Biology
Program of Study
Students wishing to obtain the specialization must first gain approval of the graduate program chair. This should be done as early as possible, ideally during the first year of graduate studies. In order to receive the PhD in neuroscience with additional specialization in quantitative biology, candidates must complete (a) the requirements for the PhD described above and (b) the course requirements for the quantitative biology specialization that are described in the quantitative biology section of this Bulletin.
Any alteration to the quantitative biology course requirements must be approved by the graduate program chair and by the quantitative biology program faculty advisory committee.
Courses of Instruction
(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students
NEUR
90a
Field Study: Neuroscience
Four semester course credits, of which a maximum of two may count toward the major.
Students proposing to take this course are expected to work out a detailed plan of study for one semester with the help of department faculty members. This plan is to be submitted to the department for its consideration before the end of the semester preceding the one in which NEUR 90a would be taken. Approval depends on the department's resources for supporting the student's plan as well as on the student's competence and the excellence of the plan itself. Usually offered every year.
Staff
NEUR
98a
Readings in Neuroscience
Usually offered every year.
Staff
NEUR
98b
Readings in Neuroscience
Usually offered every year.
Staff
NEUR
99a
Neuroscience Senior Research
The first semester of a two-semester course involving the student in an independent research project conducted under the supervision of a staff member and serving as an intensive introduction to specific methods of neuroscience research. Students should register for NEUR 99b for the second semester of research in the spring. In cases where students are able to do unusually long, intensive work in the laboratory, they may request a third course credit during the petition process; if this request is approved by the senior honors coordinator, students should register for NEUR 99a (fall) followed by NEUR 99e (spring). The combined enrollments for senior research may not exceed three semester course credits. To fulfill the NEUR 99 requirements, students must (1) submit to their research sponsor, at the conclusion of their first NEUR 99 semester, a paper that reviews the literature pertinent to their field of research, and (2) submit to their research sponsor, at the conclusion of their second NEUR 99 semester, a senior thesis that includes an abstract, an introduction, a review of materials and methods, results, discussion, and references. Usually offered every year.
Staff
NEUR
99b
Neuroscience Senior Research
A continuation of NEUR 99a. See NEUR 99a for course description.
Staff
NEUR
99e
Senior Research
See NEUR 99a for course description. Usually offered every year.
Staff
NPSY
11b
Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: PSYC 1a or MATH 10a or permission of the instructor.
Data and theories regarding current conceptions of brain-behavior relationships. Begins with an introduction to neural systems as classically defined (sensory, association, motor, autonomic), and moves on to examination of the biological underpinnings of various behaviors, from those relating to basic drives (reproduction, feeding) to those with a cognitive flavor. Throughout, the accent is on interactions between organisms and environment (learning). Usually offered every year.
Mr. Katz
NPSY
12a
Perception: Human, Animal, and Machine
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Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or MATH 10a or permission of the instructor.
Examines the human senses, emphasizing sight and hearing, studied from standpoints of anatomy, physiology, and psychophysics. Insights from the study of special observers, including developmentally immature humans, members of nonhuman species, and people with abnormal sensory systems. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Sekuler
NPSY
16a
Motor Control
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Prerequisites: PSYC 1a or MATH 10a or equivalents, and at least sophomore standing, or permission of the instructor.
Surveys control of vertebrate posture and movement from various perspectives including muscle properties, reflex organization, central pattern generation, spatial representations, learning, and development. Emphasizes research in physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and computational theory. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. DiZio
NPSY
17a
Hand and Brain
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Prerequisites: PSYC 1a or MATH 10a, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to neuroscience and psychology majors with a minimum of 3.3. GPA.
The specialized developments of the human hand and the parallel developments of the brain, tool use, sign language, and language acquisition are discussed. The control of voluntary movements is a key focus. Includes laboratory demonstrations. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Lackner
NPSY
22b
Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: PSYC 1a or MATH 10a or permission of the instructor.
This course explores how the human brain makes the human mind. It covers neural and behavioral dimensions of attention, memory and learning, perception, motor control, plasticity and planning. Experimental approaches and neuroimaging are emphasized. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Sekuler
(100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students
NBIO
123b
Population Genetics/Genomics
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22a.
Overviews the causes and consequences of genetic differences between and within species. Introduces classical population genetics and modern genomics and explores their application to understanding the genetics of neurological disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Garrity
NBIO
136b
Computational Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: MATH 10a or PHYS 10a or approved equivalents.
An introduction to concepts and methods in computer modeling of neural systems. Topics include single and multicompartmental models of neurons, information representation and processing by populations of neurons, synaptic plasticity and models of learning, working memory, decision making and neuroeconomics. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Miller
NBIO
140b
Principles of Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22b or permission of the instructor.
Examines the basic principles of neuroscience. Topics include resting potentials, action potentials, synaptic transmission, sensory systems, motor systems, learning, neural circuits underlying behavior, neurological diseases, and mental illness. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Marder
NBIO
143b
Developmental Neurobiology
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22a and 22b or permission of the instructor.
Discusses the mechanisms used in the development of the nervous system. Topics include determination of neuronal cell fates, neuronal differentiation and pattern formation, neuron survival and growth, and mechanisms responsible for generation of connectivity in the nervous system. This course emphasizes reading of original scientific research papers and class discussion. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Paradis
NBIO
145b
Systems Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.
We are entering an historic period during which many systems-level mysteries of brain function will be solved. This course will attempt to give a perspective on this enterprise. We will begin by defining what it means to understand a brain region, i.e. what criteria must be satisfied. We will then read and discuss key papers that begin to meet these criteria for different brain stuctures, including the cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, basal ganglia and cerebellum. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Lisman
NBIO
146a
The Neurobiology of Human Disease
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.
A lecture- and literature-based overview of the neurobiological underpinnings of neurological and psychiatric disorders including autism, mental retardation, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other developmental and degenerative disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Nelson
NBIO
147a
Neurogenetics
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Prerequisites: BIOL 18a and BIOL 22a.
Topics include function of genes, neurons and neuronal circuits in the generation of behavior. The use of genetics and genetic manipulations in the study of behavior will be emphasized. Model organisms to be discussed will include Drosophila, C. elegans, zebrafish and mammals.Usually offered every third year.
Ms. Sengupta
NBIO
148b
Cellular Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b or permission of the instructor. Graduate students may take this course concurrently with NBIO 140b.
Focuses on cellular and molecular mechanisms of excitability and synaptic plasticity. Students examine classic experiments on action potentials and synaptic transmission and the original research literature dealing with the cellular mechanisms of developmental and learning-related plasticity. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Turrigiano
NBIO
150a
Autism and Human Developmental Disorders
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22b.
Autism and other developmental disorders are characterized by cognitive and behavioral deficits and by subtle changes in brain development. This course takes an integrative approach to investigate the biological, behavioral, medical, and social aspects of human developmental disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Birren
NBIO
157a
Project Laboratory in Neurobiology and Behavior
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This is an experiential learning course. Prerequisites: BIOL 18a,b and 22a,b. Course fee: $150.
Focuses on neurobiology, the study of the function of the nervous system. Importantly, research conducted by students will address unanswered biological questions in this field. This course will focus on temperature sensation and regulation, using the fruit fly Drosophila as a model system. Students will learn: techniques for studying animal behavior in a rigorous lab setting, experimental design and analysis, and the fundamentals of reading and writing scientific research papers. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Vecsey
NPHY
115a
Dynamical Systems, Chaos, and Fractals
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Prerequisites: PHYS 10a or 15a, or instructor's permission for approved equivalents.
Advanced introduction to the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems, bifurcations, chaotic behaviors, and fractal patterns. Concepts and analysis are illustrated by examples from physics, chemistry, and biology. The course will be complemented by a significant number of computer labs. Usually offered every second year.
Staff
NPSY
120b
Man in Space
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Prerequisite: PHYS 10a and PSYC 52a.
Topics include how orbital flight is achieved, spacecraft life support systems, circulatory dynamics, sensory-motor control and vestibular function in free fall, the physiological and psychological adaptations necessary in space flight, and how astronauts must readapt on return to Earth. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Lackner
NPSY
125a
Advanced Topics in Perception and Adaptation
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Prerequisites: MATH 10b, NBIO 140b, and PHYS 10a.
Covers current issues and theories in vision, vestibular function, proprioception, and adaptation to unusual force environments from psychological and biological perspectives. Usually offered every third year.
Mr. Lackner
NPSY
137b
Cognitive Modeling
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Prerequisites: MATH 10b and PSYC 51a or NBIO 136b, or permission of the instructor.
A general introduction to the construction and simulation of mathematical models of human cognitive processes. The major emphasis will be on models of human learning and memory. Students will be expected to have some background in computer programming. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Fiser
NPSY
141a
Stress, Physiology, and Health
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Prerequisites: NPSY 11b, NBIO 146a, PSYC 38a, or NPSY 199a.
About a third of all diseases in western society are related to stress. The study of psychosocial determinants of health is a growing field, in which biological and psychological research is combined to understand pathways between CNS processes and health. We will study these processes in this course. sually offered every year.
Mr. Rohleder
NPSY
154a
Human Memory
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Prerequisite: PSYC 52a or NBIO 140b, or permission of the instructor.
Presents a systematic analysis of memory research and theory. The seminar will emphasize current research employing cognitive neuroscience methods, such as fMRI. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Gutchess
NPSY
174b
Visual Cognition
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Prerequisite: NPSY 12a or permission of the instructor.
Higher-order processes in vision. Visual impact of cognitive and other top-down influences, including attention, expectation, plasticity, and learning. Focus on visual recognition, contour formation, segmentation, temporal binding, and face and object perception. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Fiser or Mr. Sekuler
NPSY
175b
The Neuroscience of Vision
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Prerequisite: NPSY 12a or permission of the instructor.
Examines the neural basis of human vision from multiple complementary perspectives. Relates visual capacities of human observers to the structure and function of the visual system. Considers computational and functional neuroimaging approaches to vision. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Sekuler
NPSY
196b
Advanced Topics in Cognition
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Prerequisite: PSYC 1a and one of the following: NPSY 12a, PSYC 13b, or NPSY 22b.
This seminar covers current issues and research in memory, speech perception, and language comprehension. Emphasis will be placed on the current literature in the field. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Wingfield
NPSY
197a
Advanced Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
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Prerequisites: NPSY 11b and NBIO 140b or permission of the instructor.
Covers current research and issues pertaining to the neurobiology of perception (focusing mainly but not exclusively on perception of chemosensory signals) as well as the neurobiology of simple learning. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Katz
NPSY
199a
Human Neuropsychology
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Prerequisite: Psych 1a or Math 10a and at least sophomore standing.
Designed as an introduction to human neuropsychology. Topics include cerebral dominance, neuroanatomical mapping, and localization of function, with special reference to language, memory, and related cognitive function. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Wingfield
(200 and above) Primarily for Graduate Students
NBIO
250d
Neuroscience Proseminar
Limited to first- and second-year neuroscience PhD students.
Required seminar for first- and second-year graduate students in the neuroscience PhD program. Discusses relevant papers from the current literature with an emphasis on increasing oral presentation skills, experimental design, and proposal writing. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Fiser
NBIO
306d
Topics in Neurobiology
Usually offered every year.
Ms. Paradis
NBIO
340d
Systems/Computational Neuroscience Journal Club
Usually offered every year.
Mr. Miller
NEUR
298a
Readings in Neuroscience
Usually offered every year.
Staff
NEUR
298b
Readings in Neuroscience
Usually offered every year.
Staff
NEUR
300d
Laboratory Rotations
Staff
NEUR
401d
Dissertation Research
Independent research for the PhD degree. Specific sections for individual faculty members as requested.
Staff
NPSY
207b
Seminar in Perception
Prerequisites: MATH 10b, NBIO 140b, and PHYS 10a.
Examines the various aspects of visual, vestibular, motor, and proprioceptive information by which objects and events in three-dimensional space are perceived by human observers. Current research in psychology and artificial intelligence is considered. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Lackner
Cross-Listed in Neuroscience
BIOL
135b
The Principles of Biological Modeling
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Prerequisite: MATH 10a or 10b.
With examples from neuroscience, cell biology, ecology, evolution, and physiology, dynamical concepts of significance throughout the biological world are discussed. Simple computational and mathematical models are used to demonstrate important roles of the exponential function, feedback, stability, oscillations, and randomness. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Miller
BIOL
149b
Molecular Pharmacology
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Prerequisites: BIOL 22b and CHEM 25a and b. NBIO 140b strongly recommended.
Covers the essentials of pharmacology and the study of the actions of chemical agents (drugs, toxins, neurotransmitters, and hormones) that interact with living systems. Emphasizes molecular mechanisms of neuropharmacology. Topics include pharmacokinetics, hormone action, autonomic pharmacology, and the psychopharmacology of drugs of abuse and mental disorders. Usually offered every third year.
Ms. Griffith
QBIO
110a
Numerical Modeling of Biological Systems
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Prerequisite: MATH 10a and b or equivalent.
Modern scientific computation applied to problems in molecular and cell biology. Covers techniques such as numerical integration of differential equations, molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations. Applications range from enzymes and molecular motors to cells. Usually offered every second year.
Staff
QBIO
120b
Quantitative Biology Instrumentation Laboratory
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Focuses on optical and other instruments commonly used in biomedical laboratories to make quantitative measurements in vivo and in vitro. Students disassemble and reconfigure modular instruments in laboratory exercises that critically evaluate instrument reliability and usability and investigate the origins of noise and systematic error in measurements. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Gelles
Required First-Year Graduate Health-Related Science Programs Course
CONT
300b
Ethical Practice in Health-Related Sciences
Required of all first-year graduate students in health-related science programs. Not for credit.
Ethics is an essential aspect of scientific research. This course, taught by university faculty from several graduate disciplines, covers major ethical issues germane to the broader scientific enterprise, including areas or applications from a number of fields of study. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Ringe