COURSE: Neuroscience 451 Lecture Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Malinda E.C. Fitzgerald

Office Hours: CW 112

Thursday Off Campus Research Day, available at UT 448-5724

Appointments can be arranged at other times, just see me in class or call and arrange.

Office phone 321-3262

TEXT Books: Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain (3rd ed), , Bear et al. ; Neuroscience (an outline approach), Castro et al., Neuroanatomy (5th ed) Haines

Goals: To obtain an understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system as we know it today.

OVERVIEW: The field of Neuroscience is a large and rapidly expanding field. Many disciplines are involved in the study of the function of the nervous system. This course is an overview of the neuroscience field. An emphasis will be placed in this course on the neuroanatomy of the mammalian brain. (Its histology and connections). In addition neurophysiology and neuropharmacology of both vertebrate and invertebrate systems will be discussed. Truly the brain is a frontier. We know a great deal about how the brain functions yet we still have so much to learn. Discussions within this class will also include some clinical implications of neurodegenerative diseases. In the laboratory we will utilize the resources available to us within the Center For Neuroscience at the University of TN, University of Memphis, and CBU.

ATTENDANCE: Students are required to attend all lectures, and labs. Some of the labs will require transportation to another location. Students must be present for all scheduled exams. All exams will be comprehensive to some degree, because you will have to integrate material from the previous exam. Make up exams will be given if a valid reason is given. This exam will not be the same as previously administered to the class. Any student who misses 8 hours of the lecture may be withdrawn from the course, or given an "F". Exams will not be returned, however they will be available for review. Discussion within the class is a necessary component of your grade. I expect you to be able to interact and discuss issues concerning social, economic and biological impact of neuroscience on both you as an individual and the society at large.

GRADING PROTOCOL:

1. Three full period exams worth 100 points each. These exams will be comprehensive and will included multiple choice, short answer and essay format.  There will also be take home problems that will be assigned as part of the exam. Additional exams maybe added if needed.

2. Four literature assignments. Two will involve analysis of journal articles or seminars (25 points each). One will be a short paper worth 50 points (due before mid-term) and the fourth assignment other will be an in depth paper. You will be required to attend one neuroscience related seminar and an analysis of the topic can replace the short paper. The in depth paper will be worth 100 points total. This paper is designed to complement your project in the laboratory.

3. One comprehensive final exam will be given. This will be scheduled during exam week. This will be worth 200 points. If you have an overall grade of 95 you will be exempt from the final exam.

5. The grading scale will be 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, <59=F.

2009 Lecture Syllabus


 

Tentative Schedule.  Subject to change at any time.

 

Week

Dates

Chapter in Bear *

Topic

1

1/12-1/16

Chapters 1, 2

Introduction

2

1/19 holiday

1/21-1/23

Chapter 3, 7

Structure of Nervous System and Development

3

1/26-1/28

Chapter 3, 4

Action potential and

membrane properties

4

1/30-2/4

Chapter 5, 6

Synapse, neurotransmitters

EXAM

2/6

Chapters 1-7

Exam I

5

2/9-2/13

Chapter 8, some 19 and 23

Chemical Senses and General Cortical Organization , EEG

6

2/16-2/20

Chapters 9,10  

The Eye

7

2/23-2/25

Chapter 11

Auditory/Vestibular System

8

3/2-3/6

Chapters 12, 13

Somatsensory and begin movement

EXAM

2/27

Chapters 7-11

Exam II

9

Spring BREAK

Spring BREAK

Spring BREAK

10

3/16-3/20

Chapters 14, 18

Movement and Injury

11

3/23-3/27

Chapters 15, 16

Chemical Basis of Behavior

12/13

3/30-4/1

Chapters 17, 18

Motivation and Sex

EXAM

4/3

Chapters 12-18

Exam III

13

4/6-4/8

Chapter 19,

Sleep

4/9-4/14

Easter

Easter

Easter

14

4/15-4/17

Chapter 20, 21

Language

15

4/20-4/24

Chapter 21

Mental Illness

16

4/27-5/1

Chapter 23

Memory and Learning

17

FINAL EXAM

FINAL EXAM

FINAL EXAM