NEUROSCIENCE

Subject abbreviation: NRSC

Glenn I. Hatton, Ph.D., Chair  

Department Office, 1208 Spieth Hall

Professors:

Michael E. Adams, Ph.D.
(Neuroscience and Entomology)

John H. Ashe, Ph.D.
(Neuroscience and Psychology)

Glenn I. Hatton, Ph.D.
(Neuroscience)

Raphael Zidovetzki, Ph.D.
(Neuroscience and Biology)

Professor Emeritus:

Paul D. Wilson, Ph.D.
(Neuroscience and Psychology)

Associate Professors:

B. Glenn Stanley, Ph.D.
(Neuroscience and Psychology)

Assistant Professors:

Margarita C. Currás, Ph.D.

Scott N. Currie, Ph.D.  

Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary approach to understanding nervous systems at levels from the molecular and cellular to the whole organism. Areas of research currently represented in the Department include biophysical properties of excitable membranes; synaptic structure and function; changes in nervous system with experience; interactions of nervous and endocrine systems; and sensory and motor integrative processes.

UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM  

Students interested in neuroscience can obtain training in behavioral neuroscience, neurobiology, and neurochemistry through the Neuroscience major leading to the B.A. or B.S. degree. The Neuroscience major is an intercollege major offered by the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. See Neuroscience Undergraduate Major section.

GRADUATE CURRICULUM  

Courses and research in neuroscience are offered by the interdepartmental Neuroscience Graduate Group. See Neuroscience Graduate Study section.

UPPER-DIVISION COURSES  

NRSC 106.
Introduction to Neuroscience. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B, CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C; or consent of instructor. An introduction to cellular, organismal, and behavioral neuroscience for science majors. Topics include structure and functions of the brain, neurons, and synapses; sensory systems and perception; control of movement; neurobiology of hormones and sexual behavior; biorhythms, learning, memory, and psychoses.

NRSC 116.
Cellular Neuroscience: Structure-Function Relationships. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion; one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 106 or consent of instructor. Examination of structures comprising nervous systems and the functional principles around which these structures are organized. Topics range from whole brain anatomy to the cellular units (neurons and glia) that constitute nervous systems, and to subcellular elements important in neural functioning.

NRSC 120.
Cellular Neuroscience: Membrane and Synaptic Phenomena. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 106 or consent of instructor. An examination of cellular and molecular mechanisms of nervous system function using concepts drawn from the study of vertebrates and invertebrates with emphasis on mammalian systems. Cross-listed with PSYC 120.

NRSC 120L.
Neuroscience Laboratory. (2)

Lecture, one hour; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120 or concurrent enrollment. Laboratory experiments using electrophysiological, chemical, and anatomical research methods fundamental to understanding neurons and neural systems. Cross-listed with PSYC 120L.

NRSC 121.
Developmental Neuroscience. (3)

Lecture, three hours. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 106 or consent of instructor. Development of nervous systems. An examination of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neural development and the determinants of cell birth and death, axonal pathfinding, neuronal connections, and development of neural systems underlying behavior.

NRSC 124.
Systems Neuroscience. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 106 or consent of instructor. Study of the structure and function of motor, sensory, and motivational systems in vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. Cross-listed with PSYC 124.

NRSC 125.
Neuropharmacology. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120; previous or concurrent enrollment in NRSC 120L/PSYC 120L and NRSC 124/ PSYC 124 recommended. Examines synaptic neurotransmitter systems, mechanisms, and pharmacological agents and effects, which are fundamental to neural information processing. Cross-listed with PSYC 125.

NRSC 126.
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120 or consent of instructor. Covers recent research and advances in the understanding of the physiological, anatomical, and biochemical basis of information acquisition and retention in nonhuman and human brain. Cross-listed with PSYC 126.

NRSC 127.
Behavioral Control Systems. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120; NRSC 124/PSYC 124 strongly recommended. An analysis of the principles of nervous system operation from the processing of sensory inputs for object recognition and localization to the organization of central patterns for generation of sequenced motor output. Cross-listed with PSYC 127.

NRSC 191.
Seminar in Neuroscience. (3)

Seminar, three hours. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/ PSYC 120 and one other upper-division Neuroscience course, or consent of instructor; upper-division standing. Lectures by the instructor and oral presentations by students on selected topics with emphasis on current research in neuroscience. Instructor and the topic vary. Written assignment. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 6 units.

NRSC 194.
Independent Reading. (1-2)

Individual study, three to six hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Individual reading under faculty direction. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 4 units.

NRSC 197.
Research for Undergraduates. (1-4)

Outside research, three to twelve hours. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120 (or concurrent enrollment); consent of instructor. An introduction to laboratory research under the supervision of a faculty member.

NRSC 199.
Senior Research. (1-4)

Outside research, three to twelve hours. Prerequisite(s): open to seniors by invitation of faculty; NRSC 120/ PSYC 120. Original research undertaken under the direction of a faculty member.

GRADUATE COURSES  

NRSC 200A-NRSC 200B-NRSC 200C.
Fundamentals of Neuroscience. (3-3-3)

Lecture, three hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing or consent of instructor; NRSC 200A/PSYC 200A for 200B; NRSC 200B/PSYC 200B for 200C. The fundamentals of neuroscience in the areas of molecular and cellular mechanisms, neural and hormonal systems, and neural control of behavior. Cross-listed with PSYC 200A-PSYC 200B-PSYC 200C.

NRSC 257.
Graduate Seminar in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology. (1)

Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Lectures by visiting scholars on current research in cell, molecular, and developmental biology. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable. Cross-listed with BCH 257, BIOL 257, BMSC 257, BPSC 257, ENTM 257, ENTX 257, NEM 257, and PLPA 257.

NRSC 287.
Colloquium in Neuroscience. (1)

Colloquium, one hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing or consent of instructor. Oral reports on current research topics in neuroscience with presentations by visiting scholars, faculty, and students. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable. Cross-listed with BCH 287, BIOL 287, BMSC 287, CHEM 287, ENTM 287, and PSYC 287.

NRSC 289.
Special Topics in Neuroscience. (2)

Seminar, two hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing or consent of instructor. An interdisciplinary seminar consisting of student presentations and discussion of selected topics in neuroscience. Content and instructor(s) vary each time course is offered. Letter grades will be assigned to students presenting formal seminars; others will be graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable. Cross-listed with BCH 289, BIOL 289, BMSC 289, CHEM 289, ENTM 289, and PSYC 289.