An Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience

Last updated: October 20, 2020 at 1:49 PM

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 experimental cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, 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 a semi-independent research based "project lab" course.

Learning Goals

Undergraduate Major

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 neurons and the networks they form 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:

Experimental laboratory work. Examples of general skills include directed mutagensis, qPCR, and tissue culture. More specific skills may be acquired by working in a research laboratory. These skills include designing study protocols, collecting data (working with human or non-human animals), brain dissection, tissue culture of neurons, techniques in optical and electron microscopy, and techniques in electrophysiology.
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.
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.
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.

Graduate Program in Neuroscience

Master of Science in Neuroscience

Graduate Outcomes

The Neuroscience Master's program will guide each student toward realizing their potential as a scientist and will foster their career development towards obtaining a position in research, teaching, or other scientific enterprises. Students are encouraged to become experts in the theory and practice of their chosen area of research, as well as to obtain breadth in other areas strongly represented in the program.

Students graduating with a Master’s degree in Neuroscience are expected to:

Demonstrate a graduate-level understanding of the principles and techniques of at least two of the areas of research represented by the program: cognitive, computational, systems, cellular, and molecular neuroscience.
Explore possible research areas and techniques through a semester of independent or semi-independent research.
Become confident in reading primary literature, critical thinking, and presentation
Learn ethical practices in the Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience

Graduate Outcomes

The PhD program in neuroscience will equip students with the advanced knowledge and training necessary to conduct research and education 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.

Students graduating with a PhD degree in Neuroscience are expected to:

Demonstrate a graduate-level understanding of the principles and techniques of at least two of the areas of research represented by the program: cognitive, computational, systems, cellular, and molecular neuroscience.
Explore possible research areas and techniques through four first-year laboratory rotations
Become confident in reading primary literature, critical thinking, and presentation
Become proficient in scientific writing and oral defense of original research
Obtain training in the preparation of grant applications
Become confident in using quantitative methods or approaches
Gain experience teaching students in a teaching assistantship role
Learn ethical practices in the Sciences
Complete a significant body of original work that advances the field of Neuroscience and that results in publication of the work in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

How to Become a Major

The neuroscience major requires a strong science course load. There is a meeting each fall at which interested students can discuss the major with neuroscience faculty. Students can schedule an appointment with the Undergraduate Advising Head (Paul Miller) for further information or to enroll in the major. The requirements are listed below and include many options. It is recommended that each major meet with his or her adviser to determine which options best satisfy each student's needs. Because of the number of science electives required, it is recommended that students begin enrolling in these courses early, especially those listed as prerequisites for advanced courses in the major. Students interested in senior research should contact prospective mentors by the spring of their junior year.

How to Be Admitted to the Graduate Program

The general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, given in an earlier section of
this Bulletin, apply to candidates for admission to this field of study.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not necessary to apply to either the MS or PhD programs,
but will be considered along with other application materials if it is submitted.

The student's undergraduate curriculum should include related fundamental science courses.

Students currently enrolled in other PhD 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.

Faculty

Anne Berry
(Psychology)

Susan Birren
(Biology; Volen Center)

Paul DiZio
(Psychology; Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory; Volen Center)

Irving Epstein
(Chemistry; Volen Center)

Paul Garrity
(Biology; Volen Center)

Leslie Griffith
(Biology; Director, Volen Center)

Angela Gutchess
(Psychology; Volen Center)

Jennifer Gutsell
(Psychology; Volen Center)

Sebastian Kadener
(Volen National Center for Complex Systems; Rosenstiel Center)

Shantanu Jadhav
(Psychology; Volen Center)

Donald Katz
(Psychology; Volen Center)

James Lackner
(Psychology; Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory; Volen Center)

Eve Marder
(Biology; Volen Center)

Maria Miara, Graduate Advising Head
(Biology)

Paul Miller, Undergraduate Advising Head
(Biology; Volen Center)

Sacha Nelson
(Biology; Volen Center)

Daniel Oprian
(Biochemistry; Volen Center)

Suzanne Paradis
(Biology; Volen Center)

Avital Rodal
(Biology, Rosenstiel Center; Volen Center)

Michael Rosbash
(Biology; Volen Center)

Robert Sekuler
(Psychology; Volen Center)

Piali Sengupta
(Biology; Volen Center)

Hannah Snyder
(Psychology; Volen Center)

Jonathan Toubol
(Math; Volen Center)

Gina Turrigiano
(Biology; Volen Center)

Stephen Van Hooser
(Biology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)

Arthur Wingfield
(Psychology; Volen Center)

Requirements for the Major

A. All students majoring in neuroscience are required to take courses in the following four groups:

Core courses (two required courses)
Neuroscience electives (two in neurobiology, two in cognitive neuroscience)
Laboratory courses (equivalent to 3 full courses)
Additional science electives (see Option I or Option II)

Specific requirements for the additional 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 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 or D+ in a semester course will be allowed. A grade of D is not allowed for core courses. No D- will be allowed.

Advanced Placement exams may count for at most two additional science electives for the neuroscience major. Advanced Placement exams cannot count for Neuroscience Electives or Laboratory requirements. Please refer to the Advanced Placement chart for test score requirements.

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 two core courses and four neuroscience electives required of all candidates, students must take at least 44 credits (equivalent to 11 full courses) of additional science electives. Courses able to fulfill each category are detailed in "B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors"; at least twelve of these credits (equivalent to 3 full courses) must be from laboratory courses.

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 two core courses and four neuroscience electives required of all candidates, students must take at least 52 credits (equivalent to 13 full courses) of additional science electives. Courses able to fulfill each category are detailed in "B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors"; at least 12 credits must be from laboratory courses.

B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors

Core Courses

All students are required to take:

NBIO 140b (Principles of Neuroscience), the core course in neurobiology.
At least one core course in quantitative methods: BIOL 51a (Biostatistics), BIOL 107a (Data Analysis and Statistics Workshop), ECON 83a (Statistics for Economic Analysis), MATH 40a (Introduction to Applied Mathematics), NBIO 136b (Computational Neuroscience), NPHY 115a (Dynamical Systems), PSYC 51a (Statistics), PSYC 148a (Applied Statistical Computing in R), PSYC 210a (Advanced Psychological Statistics), or PHYS 105a (Biological Physics). A course taken to satisfy the quantitative method requirement cannot also count as an elective course.

Neuroscience Electives

All students are required to take two courses from the neurobiology (NBIO) list and two courses from the cognitive neuroscience (NPSY) list:

Neurobiology list: BIOL 149b (Molecular Pharmacology), NBIO 136b (Computational Neuroscience), NBIO 142b (Circadian Rhythms and Sleep), NBIO 143b (Developmental Neurobiology), NBIO 145b (Systems Neuroscience), NBIO 146a (Neurobiology of Disease), NBIO 147a (Neurogenetics), NBIO 148b (Mechanisms of Neuronal Excitability and Plasticity), NBIO 157a (Project Laboratory in Neurobiology and Behavior), NBIO 161a (Cellular and Network Mechanisms of Memory).

Cognitive Neuroscience list: NPSY 11b (Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience), NPSY 12a (Perception: Human, Animal, and Machine), NPSY 16a (Motor Control), NPSY 17a (Hand and Brain), NPSY 22b (Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience), NPSY 28a (Learning and Memory), NPSY 120b (Man in Space), NPSY 139a (Memory and the Brain), NPSY 141a (Stress, Physiology, and Health), NPSY 154a (Human Memory), NPSY 174b (Visual Cognition), NPSY 180a (Social Neuroscience and Culture), NPSY 182a (Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience: Infancy through Adolescence), NPSY 196b (Advanced Topics in Cognition), NPSY 197a (Advanced Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience), NPSY 199a (Human Neuropsychology), PHIL 123b (Neuroethics), 131a (Philosophy of the Mind). Only one Philosophy course may count towards the major.

Additional Science Electives

The additional science electives include courses, except those stated below, numbered 10 and above in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics, as well as any elective on the neurobiology list and up to three electives from the cognitive neuroscience list. 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. PHYS 11a,b or PHYS 15a,b is recommended over PHYS 10a,b.

In order for research 93/99 courses (BIOL, NEUR, CHEM, BCHM) to count towards this requirement, students must take at least 2 semesters and will receive only 4 credits (equivalent to one full course) toward the requirement.

Reading courses (numbered 90-98) do not count as additional science electives.

Laboratory Requirement

The additional science electives must be fulfilled with at least 12 credits (equivalent to 3 full courses) of laboratory work.

All science laboratory courses, including EL 24b (QBReC Lab), QBIO 120b and project labs such as BIOL 155a and BIOL 159a can count toward the lab requirement. AP credit does not count toward the lab requirement. Purely computational courses such as BIOL 107a (Data Analysis and Statistics Workshop) do not count towards the laboratory requirement. Research 99 courses (BIOL, NEUR, CHEM, BCHM) can also count towards this requirement, but students must take at least 2 semesters and will receive only 4 credits (equivalent to 1 full course) toward the lab requirement.

Double-Counting Electives

No single course can be used to fulfill more than one requirement of the neuroscience major. A course taken to satisfy the quantitative method requirement cannot also count as an elective course.

Only one of either BIOL 51a or PSYC 51a can be counted toward the major.

C. Foundational Literacies: As part of completing the Neuroscience major, students must:

Fulfill the writing intensive requirement by successfully completing one of the following: BIOL 18b or successful completion of senior research (NEUR 93 plus NEUR 99 or two semesters of NEUR 99 or two semesters of NEUR 199).
Fulfill the oral communication requirement by successfully completing: BIOL 18a.
Fulfill the digital literacy requirement by successfully completing one of the following: BIOL 51a, BIOL 107a, COSI 12b, COSI 21a, COSI 131a, PSYC 51a, or NBIO 136b.

D. 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 one of these and NEUR 93) 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. Students must meet university eligibility for honors, and, in addition, a minimum grade of B+ must be earned in NEUR 99a and NEUR 99b (or one of these and NEUR 93) to be eligible for honors. Petitions and information about the research internship and senior research are available in the biology department office or you can download the NEUR 93 and NEUR 99 petitions. To reach the level of honors, a student must typically work in a research lab for at least two years.

Combined BS/MS Program

An undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience may be admitted to the four-year BS/MS program upon recommendation by the faculty research sponsor. In addition the student must meet with and receive approval from the Neuroscience Undergraduate Advising Head. It is essential that this meeting take place no later than February 1 of the student’s junior year.

In order to complete the BS/MS program in neuroscience, students must successfully complete courses earning 152 credits. These courses must include those needed to satisfy the requirements for the Neuroscience BS degree plus 3 additional electives chosen from the neurobiology or cognitive neuroscience electives listed in the Bulletin. Of the neuroscience and additional science electives required for the BS/MS degree, at least 7 must be at the graduate level, and completed with a grade of B- or above. All restrictions and limitations on allowable courses, such as double-counting, that are listed for the neuroscience major, remain as restrictions and limitations on courses allowed to fulfill requirements for the BS/MS.

BS/MS students must complete two graduate level research courses (NEUR 199a, b Senior Research), which can count for senior honors and together can count as a single neuroscience electives. The award of the MS is dependent on students achieving departmental honors in neuroscience. To reach the level of honors, a student must typically work in a research lab for at least two years.

Special Notes Relating to Undergraduates

Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science

Program of Study

The program is designed to guide each student toward realizing their potential as a scientist and to foster their career development towards obtaining a position in research, teaching, or other scientific enterprises. Students are encouraged to become experts in the theory and practice of their chosen area of research, as well as to obtain breadth in other areas strongly represented in the program. Graduate courses are available in the areas of cognitive, computational, and cellular neuroscience.

Graduate students will be eligible for an MS in neuroscience by completing six graduate-level lecture courses in neuroscience, along with registering for and completing the appropriate Journal Clubs (at least NBIO340a/b) for two semester and the Graduate Student Research Seminar (BIOL 350a/b) for two semesters. The six lecture courses must include NBIO 140b, the Masters Proseminar course (BIOL 205a), and one laboratory or research-based course, with the balance of courses being graduate-level neuroscience or biology elective courses. However, it is the aim of the program to be flexible and allow students to fill gaps in their education. Thus, if warranted, non-graduate courses or courses outside of neuroscience or biology can be taken if to be agreed upon with the program advisor. The laboratory or research component can be met by a Masters Research Lab (NEUR 296a), or a Project Laboratory (e.g. BIOL 151b, BIOL 156a, BIOL 159a, or NBIO 157a). Students who wish to fulfill this requirement through NEUR 296a must obtain approval from the faculty member in whose lab the research is to take place, and must submit a written laboratory report at the end of the semester. If a student takes both the Masters Research Lab course (NEUR 296a) and a Project Laboratory course, the latter will be considered an elective course. The Masters Research Lab course (NEUR 296a) cannot be considered an elective, even if taken more than once. All students are required to take CONT 300b (Responsible Conduct of Science) or attend the comparable Division of Science Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) workshop, usually offered in the spring. In order to earn a degree from this program, the student must complete a minimum of 32 credits.

With approval of the supervising faculty member and the chair of the program, students have the option to write a Master’s Thesis (NEUR 299a) following completion of at least one full semester of Master’s Research Lab (NEUR 296a), provided that the research was performed in a single laboratory at Brandeis. Those who wish to complete a Master’s Thesis must obtain approval in the semester prior to when they will register for NEUR 299a (by November 1st if completing the thesis in the spring semester and by March 1st if completing the thesis in the fall semester). After completion and approval, the thesis must be deposited electronically in the Robert D. Farber University Archives at Brandeis.

Students must receive grades of B- or better in all courses and may be asked to leave the program at the end of a semester if their progress is found to be unsatisfactory by the graduate committee. Students wishing to be admitted to a second year of study must demonstrate adequate progress.

Residence Requirement

The minimum residence requirement for the MS degree is one year.

Students may take an additional one or two semesters to complete the MS degree as an Extended Master's student with approval of the chair of the program. International students may extend their time one semester if they are still completing required coursework. International students who have completed all required coursework and wish to complete the optional Master’s Thesis may stay an extra semester with advanced approval from the advising faculty, the program chair, and International Students & Scholars Office (by November 1st if completing the thesis in the spring semester and by March 1st if completing the thesis in the fall semester).

Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Program of Study

Students are expected to obtain knowledge of the principles and techniques in at least two of the areas represented in the program: cognitive, computational, systems, cellular, and molecular neuroscience. Students must take a total of six graduate-level courses for the degree, with two taken each semester in the first year. NBIO 140b (Principles of Neuroscience) and BIOL 107a (Data Statistics and Analysis) are required in the first semester, and NBIO 208a (Experimental Analysis and Design for Research Proposals) is required in the fall of the second year. The three additional courses must be relevant to the student's area of interest, with at least one of the six courses focusing on quantitative methods or approaches, and one of these courses focusing on critically reading, discussing, and writing about the primary scientific literature. All students are required to take CONT 300b (Responsible Conduct of Science) or attend the comparable Division of Science Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) workshop, typically in the spring of their first year, and again in their fifth year. In addition, first-year students will complete four nine-week rotations (NEUR 300a/b) in at least four different laboratories. Throughout all graduate years, students must register for and participate in Journal clubs (including NBIO 306a/b) and register for and present yearly (starting in their third year) in the Graduate Student Research Seminars (BIOL 350a/b). Presenting in the yearly Graduate Student Research Seminar is required to remain in good standing in the program.

The suggested schedule of course work for the first two years is:

First Year

Fall: NBIO 140b, BIOL 107a, NEUR 300a, NBIO 306a, BIOL 350a.
Spring: NEUR 300b, NBIO 306b, BIOL 350b, CONT 300b or comparable Division of Science Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) workshop, and two courses selected from the neuroscience electives.

Second Year

Fall: NBIO 208a, NBIO 306a, and BIOL 350a.
Spring: NBIO 306b, BIOL 350b, and one course selected from the neuroscience electives.

It is recommended that students who were not able to take NBIO148b in their first year take it instead in their second year.

At the end of the first year after completing rotations, each student will choose their specific field of interest and will apply for a permanent adviser, to be mutually agreed upon by the student and the faculty member. Exceptions to this timeline are subjected to review by the Graduate Committee. The adviser will assist the student in planning a well-balanced thesis-research program in their specific field of interest with the objective and expectation of publishing the work. In addition, the adviser will ordinarily serve as the chair of the student's dissertation examining committee.

Thesis Qualifying Examination

The thesis qualifying examination is a written proposition with accompanying oral exam (to be completed by May of the second 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.

Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement for the PhD degree. However, students for whom English is a second language are strongly recommended to take English as a Second Language (ESL) courses if needed.

Advancement in the Program

Year One: The students must complete their formal courses, and four rotations, with a grade of B- or better. Each of four required lab rotations is evaluated by the supervising faculty member and an outside reader, who then return their feedback to the student for revisions. Following submission of the revised report, the rotation adviser submits a brief written report on the student’s performance to be included in the student’s permanent file. By the end of the first year, students should secure a thesis lab by mutual agreement with a faculty mentor.

At the discretion of the Graduate Committee, students who perform below the minimum expectations outlined above may not be re-admitted for the second year or may be placed on probation for one year. Students may be placed on probation as early as the end of first semester (pending unsatisfactory grades in both course work and rotations), and then asked to leave at the end of Year 1 if sufficient progress (as determined by the graduate committee) is not made in semester two.

Year Two: Grades in formal courses must be B- or better. The Graduate Committee evaluates the progress of each student at the end of the second year. Continuation in the program is based on a grade in all courses of B- or better, satisfactory teaching performance, and successful defense of the Thesis Qualifying Examination. Students who had been placed on probation for the prior year must have displayed progress and must perform satisfactorily on the Thesis Qualifying Examination. . Students who perform below the minimum expectations as outlined above may not be readmitted for the third year and may be dismissed from the program.

Once the Thesis Qualifying Examination has been passed, each student is required to meet at least once a year with their Dissertation Committee to discuss progress toward the completion of the dissertation. These meetings must be documented with a form signed by the thesis committee members and turned into the Division of Science Graduate Affairs Office by the student. Progress will be reviewed by the graduate committee at the end of each year, and a student may be asked to leave the program if their progress is unsatisfactory.

Dissertation and Defense

Each student will conduct an original investigation in the field of neuroscience under the direction of their research advisor and will write a dissertation of their results. After submission of the dissertation, the candidate will give a public seminar to the university community and then defend the work and its significance in an examination before a dissertation committee. The dissertation committee must include the advisor, at least two additional Brandeis faculty members and one faculty member from outside the university. There is an expectation that students will publish at least research paper or the equivalent from their graduate work.

Please note that the above Program of Study is typical of a student entering the PhD program directly. Students who enter the PhD program from a Brandeis Master’s program may have an altered Program of Study, to be discussed and agreed upon by the student and the Graduate Committee prior to matriculation.

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. 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

Expand All

(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students

NBIO 79b Neurobiology of Reward and Substance Use Disorders
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.
Explores the neurobiology of brain circuits that process reward. We will focus on how drugs of abuse hijack the reward system, and on the behavioral aspects of addiction and how these are studied using animal models. Special one-time offering, spring 2020.
Katherine Kimbrell and Alejandro Torrado Pacheco

NEUR 93a Research Internship and Analysis
Supervised biological research experience in a Brandeis University laboratory. In consultation with a Brandeis faculty member, the student will design and execute an individual research project, culminating in an oral and written presentation. Students seeking to do neuroscience research in Brandeis laboratories outside the neuroscience program must obtain sponsorship of a neuroscience faculty member as well as permission of the neuroscience Undergraduate Advising Head (UAH). This course is not intended to and will not provide credit for off-campus internships. NEUR 93a is offered both semesters but is a one-semester course and may be taken only once and not before the fall of junior year. Students must petition the department for permission to enroll in NEUR 93a. Course requirements include laboratory research, a written report and an oral presentation, as specified in the NEUR 93a petition. Students wishing to do a summer internship for academic credit must: obtain permission from the neuroscience UAH and their neuroscience sponsor prior to commencing the internship; complete the summer internship (a minimum of 10 weeks full-time); and complete the appropriate academic work. Credit will be awarded via the student enrolling in NEUR93a in the subsequent fall term. NEUR 93a may also be used as one of the two courses needed for Senior Research (see NEUR 99). Usually offered every semester.
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
[ sn ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 10a 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.
Donald Katz

NPSY 12a Perception: Human, Animal, and Machine
[ sn ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 10a 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.
Robert Sekuler

NPSY 16a Motor Control
[ sn ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 10a 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.
Paul DiZio

NPSY 17a Hand and Brain
[ sn ss ]
Enrollment limited to neuroscience and psychology majors with a minimum of 3.3. GPA, or with permission of the instructor.
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.
James Lackner

NPSY 22b Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
[ sn ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 10a 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.
Robert Sekuler

NPSY 28a Learning and Memory
[ sn ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 10a or MATH 10a or permission of the instructor.
Introduces the study of learning and memory. The course will survey various types of memory (e.g., explicit memory, implicit memory, conditioning, short-term/working memory), including strategies, mechanisms, and brain systems. It will encompass disorders and applied aspects of memory. Usually offered every second year.
Angela Gutchess

NPSY 64a Reactivity and Resilience: Links between Stress and Internalizing Disorders
[ sn ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 52a, BIOL 51a, or BIOL 107a, or permission of the instructor.
Stress is a strong predictor of depression and anxiety symptoms. This research-intensive course investigates their cognitive and neurobiological links through reading and discussion of peer-reviewed articles. Clinical intervention and public health perspectives will be discussed. Special one-time offering, fall 2020.
Alyssa Fassett-Carman

(100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students

NBIO 136b Computational Neuroscience
[ dl sn ]
Prerequisite: MATH 10a and either NBIO 140b or PHYS 10a or approved equivalents.
An introduction to concepts and methods in computer modeling and analysis 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 neural oscillations. The course will be based on in-class computer tutorials, assuming no prior coding experience, with reading assignments and preparation as homework. Usually offered every second year.
Paul Miller

NBIO 140b Principles of Neuroscience
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing, BIOL 15b, one additional BIOL, BCHM, NBIO or NPSY course and one of the following: One year of college-level chemistry with lab, one year of college-level physics with lab, or any math course above 10a,b. AP scores are not accepted to meet the prerequisite. Junior standing recommended.
Examines the fundamental 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.
Eve Marder

NBIO 142b Circadian Rhythms and Sleep
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: NBIO 140b or BIOL 105b.
Explores via some lecturing, but predominantly discussion of papers from the primary literature, what we know about circadian rhythms and sleep in different organisms. We will discuss the molecular, cellular and circuitry control of rhythms and sleep as well as their behavioral and physiological consequences. Usually offered every second year.
Leslie Griffith and Michael Rosbash

NBIO 143b Developmental Neurobiology
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: BIOL 14a and BIOL 15b or permission of the instructor.
Discusses the molecular mechanisms used in the development of the nervous system in both invertebrate and vertebrate experimental systems. Topics include determination of neuronal cell fates, axon growth and guidance, plasticity during development, and mechanisms responsible for generation of connectivity in the nervous system. This course emphasizes reading of original scientific research papers and class discussion and oral presentations. Usually offered every second year.
Suzanne Paradis

NBIO 145b Systems Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.
Explores fundamental questions in circuit-and systems-level neuroscience. We will take a systems-level perspective to explore how the brain supports behavior and cognition. Students will read and discuss seminal and current findings to understand how the brain represents and perceives the external environment, adapts and learns, executes control, and uses internal representations to make decisions and drive behavior. The focus will in particular be on underlying circuits, neural representations and neurophysiological mechanisms. The course will follow an arc that covers sensory systems, perception and behavior, neural coding, cognition, and motor control. Emphasis will be on bridging across these levels, and on critical analysis and synthesis. Usually offered every year.
Shantanu Jadhav

NBIO 146a The Neurobiology of Human Disease
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: Any of the following BIOL 100b, BIOL103b, BIOL 105b, BIOL 122a, BIOL 123b, BIOL 128a, NBIO 140b, or NBIO 143b.
A lecture- and literature-based overview of the neurobiological underpinnings of neurological and psychiatric disorders including autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other developmental and degenerative disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Susan Birren

NBIO 147a Neurogenetics
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Prerequisites: BIOL 18a and BIOL 14a.
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.
Piali Sengupta

NBIO 148b Cellular Mechanisms of Neuronal Excitability and Plasticity
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: NBIO 140b or permission of the instructor. Graduate students may take this course concurrently with NBIO 140b.
Neurons are complex computing devises that transmit and store information. This course will explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms of excitability, as well as the plasticity mechanisms that allow neurons and synapses to store information. Students will examine classic experiments on action potentials and synaptic transmission, as well as the contemporary literature on our evolving understanding of the cellular mechanisms of regulation of excitability and learning-related plasticity. The course emphasizes reading from original papers and extensive class discussion. Usually offered every year.
Leslie Griffith

NBIO 157a Project Laboratory in Neurobiology and Behavior
[ sn wi ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 18a and b, BIOL 14a, and BIOL 15b. A statistics class (e.g. BIOL 51a or PSYC 51a) is recommended but not required. Laboratory fee: $150 per semester.
Focuses on neurobiology, the study of the function of the nervous system. 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.
Staff

NEUR 199a Senior Research
The first of a two-semester course for students pursuing the combined BS/MS in Neuroscience. The student conducts an independent research project under the supervision of a staff member and serving as an intensive introduction to specific methods of neuroscience research. To fulfill the NEUR 199 requirements, students must (1) submit to their research sponsor, at the conclusion of their first NEUR 199 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 199 semester, a senior thesis that includes an abstract, an introduction, a review of materials and methods, results, discussion, and references. Students enrolled in this course must defend their thesis and receive Departmental Honors. If student drops out of the BS/MS program, 199 will be replaced with 99.) Students must petition the department for permission to enroll in NEUR 199. Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 199b Senior Research
A continuation of NEUR 199a. See NEUR 199a for course description.
Staff

NPHY 115a Dynamical Systems
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Prerequisites: MATH 10b and MATH 15a or PHYS 20a or equivalent.
Covers analytic, computational and graphical methods for solving systems of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations. We study bifurcations, limit cycles, coupled oscillators and noise, with examples from physics, chemistry, population biology and many models of neurons. Usually offered every third year.
Irving Epstein

NPSY 120b Human Space Flight: Physics, Physiology, and Behavior
[ sn ss ]
Prerequisite: PHYS 10a.
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.
James Lackner

NPSY 139a Memory and the Brain
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Prerequisite: NPSY 11b, NPSY 22b, NPSY 28a, or NBIO 140b.
Explores the nature and organization of memory in the brain. Readings from primary literature will give a deeper understanding of how the brain orchestrates memory, and the role of memory in learning, behavior and cognition. Usually offered every third year.
Shantanu Jadhav

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. Usually offered every year.
Staff

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.
Angela Gutchess

NPSY 174b Visual Cognition
[ oc sn ss ]
Explores complex processes of visual perception. Topics include art and visual perception, visual perception by machines, visual imagery in everyday life, visual basis of reading, visual search, perceptual learning, computational models of visual perception, and face recognition. Usually offered every second year.
Robert Sekuler

NPSY 180a Social Neuroscience and Culture
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Prerequisites: PSYC 10a, 51a, and 52a, or NBIO 140a, or permission of the instructor. May not be taken for credit by students who took PSYC 213a in prior years. Formerly offered as PSYC 180a.
Introduces empirical research on a breadth of social neuroscience topics-- including the self, stereotyping, and moral reasoning--with a more focused coverage of culture. Emphasis will be placed on literature comparing Eastern and Western cultures. Usually offered every second year.
Angela Gutchess

NPSY 182a Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience: Infancy through Adolescence
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Prerequisites: PSYC 10a or NPSY 11b and either PSYC 33a or NPSY 22b or permission of the instructor.
Current research and methods in developmental cognitive neuroscience are surveyed through analysis of journal articles on language, memory, attention, executive functions, and social cognition. Infancy through adolescence are covered in both typically and atypically (Autism, ADHD, etc.) developing populations. Usually offered every second year.
Hannah Snyder

NPSY 196b Advanced Topics in Cognition
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Prerequisite: PSYC 52a, NBIO 140b, or NPSY 199a.
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.
Angela Gutchess

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.
Donald Katz

NPSY 199a Human Neuropsychology
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Prerequisite: Psych 10a 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.
Staff

(200 and above) Primarily for Graduate Students

BIOL 200a Proseminar
Required seminar for first-year graduate students in MCB and Neuroscience PhD programs.
Emphasizes the reading, analysis, and presentation of scientific papers. We will examine published research on multiple topics that will cover a broad range of experimental approaches. The course will place a strong emphasis on developing writing skills and in preparing effective oral presentations. Students will be guided toward preparing a mock research proposal that will serve as a model for the first-year PhD qualifying exam. Not offered to MCB or Neuroscience MS students. Usually offered every year.
Piali Sengupta

NBIO 207a Advanced Topics in Data Analysis
Trains graduate students in computational analysis of complex data. Analytical techniques will be discussed using data from students' active research projects, with a focus on training in experimental design and analyses, advanced statistics and rigor and reproducibility. Usually offered every year.
Paul Miller

NBIO 208a Experimental Design and Analysis for Research Proposals
Prerequisites: NBIO 140b and NEUR 401d.
Introduces second-year Neuroscience PhD students to the process of writing research proposals. Using their own research topics and materials, as well as readings from the literature, and training sessions with the instructor and additional domain experts, each student will learn to analyze the relevant neuroscientific literature, develop testable hypotheses, design well-controlled experiments, quantitatively analyze the resulting data, test for statistical significance, and communicate the results in visual plots and concise, well organized scientific writing. The end result will be a draft research proposal suitable for submission to a funding agency such as the NIH. Usually offered every year.
Staff

NBIO 306a Topics in Neurobiology
Usually offered every year.
Stephen Van Hooser

NBIO 306b Topics in Neurobiology
Usually offered every year.
Stephen Van Hooser

NBIO 340a Systems/Computational Neuroscience Journal Club
Usually offered every year.
Paul Miller

NBIO 340b Systems/Computational Neuroscience Journal Club
Usually offered every year.
Paul Miller

NEUR 296a Master's Research Lab
Prerequisite: Permission of the Program Director.
Students engage in biological research by working in the laboratory of a faculty member for a minimum of 10 hours per week for one semester. Intended for students in the MS Program in Neuroscience. Usually offered every semester.
Staff

NEUR 297a Readings in Neuroscience
Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 298a Independent Study in Neuroscience
Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 299a Master's Research Project
Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 300a Laboratory Rotations
Staff

NEUR 300b Laboratory Rotations
Staff

NEUR 301b Laboratory Rotations
Yields half-course credit.
Staff

NEUR 401d Dissertation Research
Independent research for the PhD degree. Specific sections for individual faculty members as requested.
Staff

Neurobiology

Cognitive Neuroscience

PHIL 123b Neuroethics
[ dl hum wi ]
Focuses on the philosophical and ethical implications that arise from advances in neuroscience. We will investigate questions like: What are the evolutionary origins of moral judgement? Does evolutionary theory shed light on morality? Do our moral motivations derive from reason or pre-reflective intuition? Do psychopaths have moral responsibility? Do we have free will? Is there an obligation to enhance ourselves? Should drugs be used to enhance mental functioning? Is it moral to grow human organs in animals for purposes of transplantation? Usually offered every third year.
Staff

PHIL 131a Philosophy of Mind
[ dl hum wi ]
Covers the central issue in the philosophy of mind: the mind-body problem. This is the ongoing attempt to understand the relation between our minds -- our thoughts, perceptions, feelings, and so on -- and our bodies. Is the mind just a complex configuration of (neural) matter, or is there something about it that's irreducibly different from every physical thing? Topics include intentionality, consciousness, functionalism, reductionism, and the philosophical implications of recent work in neuroscience, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. Usually offered every year.
Jerry Samet

University Bulletin (2020-2021)