Institute of Neurological Sciences

SM 573. (PSYC609) Neuroscience Core III. (B) Larry Palmer, Michael Nusbaum.

This course provides an introduction to what is known about how neuronal circuits solve problems for the organism and to current resarch approaches to this question.  Topics include: vision, audition, olfaction, motor systems, plasticity, and oscillations.  In addition, the course aims to provide an overview of the structure of the central nervous system.  A number of fundamental concepts are also discussed across topics, such as: lateral inhibition, integration, filterting, frames of reference, error signals, adaptation.  The course format consists of lectures, discussions, readings of primary literature, supplemented by textbook chapters and review articles.

574. (BE  526) Neuromorphing: Building Brains in Silicon. (B) Kwabena Boahen. Prerequisite(s): Students with advanced knowledge in neurobiology but rudimentary knowledge in electrical engineering or vice versa are welcome.  Biology students should have (1) Biophysics (BE205/CHEM221) or (2) Basic Neuroscience (INSC 591). Systems Neuroscience (INSC 598) and Computational Neuroscience (INSC 594/BE 520) are highly recommended.  Engineering students should have (1) Solid-State Device Physics (EE218) or Solid-State Circuits (EE319).  VLSI Chip Design (EE560/562/564) is highly recommended.  Students do no need to have all these prerequisites to take this course.  Please contact the instructor if you have any questions.

We model the structure and function of neural systems in silicon using very large scale integration (VLSI) complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology.  To build these neuromorphic systems, we proceed from the device level, through the circuit level, to the system level.  At the device level, we mimic electrodiffusion of ions through membrane channels with electrodiffusion of electrons through transistor channels.  At the circuit level, we derive minimal implementations of synaptic interaction, dendritic integration, and active membrane behavior.  At the system level, we synthesize the spatiotemporal dynamics of the cochlea, the retina, and early stages of cortical processing.

575. (BIOL442) Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. (I) Ted Abel.

This course focuses on the current state of our knowledge about the neurological basis of learning and memory.  A combination of lectures and discussions will explore the molecular and cellular basis of learning in invertebrates and vertebrates from a behavioral and neural perspective.

576. (PHRM550, PSYC750) Neuropsychopharmacology. (A) Irwin Lucki.

Neuropsychopharmacology provides an oveview of the neurobiology of major neuropsychiatric illnesses.  The course is divided into four modules related to behavioral disorders or disciplines.  The specific modules covered are: affective disorders, substance abuse, schizophrenia, and behavioral genetics. The modules present material that integrates clinical and basic neurobiology approaches to research of complex behavioral disorders.  Each module covers a specific area using the following format: clinical features basic and clinical neuroscience studies relevant to understanding the pathobiology and mechanisms of treatment of each set of disorders case presentations or outside speakers.

578. (BIOL488, CAMB578) Advance Topics in Behavioral Genetics. (J) Ted Abel/Maja Bucan.

This course focuses on the use of genetic techniques to study the molecular and cellular bases of behavior.  Particular emphasis will be given to the role of genetic approaches in understanding the biological processes underlying learning, memory storage, circadian rhythms, and drug abuse.  Reverse genetic approaches utilizing gene knockout and transgenic technology, as well as forward genetic approaches using mutagenesis and quantitative genetic techniques, will be discussed.

579. Synaptic Transmission. (H) Tom Parsons. Prerequisite(s): core II and core III or permission of the instructors.

This seminar course will involve critical reading and discussion of classic and modern papers in synaptic physiology.  Approximately half the time will be spent on the neuromuscular junction, with the balance covering central synapses.

581. (PSYC781) Auditory Neurobiology. (J) James Saunders.

The purpose of this course is to convey to upper level undergraduates and graduate students the fundamental processes and mechanisms of the auditory system.  The course will develop ideas describing the structure and function of the peripheral and central auditory pathway.  The flow of acoustic energy will be analytically and quantitatively traced through the peripheral ear. The details of auditory transduction will be explored as a mechanical and electrochemical system.  Information transfer to simple and complex acoutic signals in the central auditory pathway will be explored from the auditory nerve to the cortex.  In addition, the pathophysiology or hearing due to excessive sound exposure or ototoxic drug treatment will be considered.  The database used in the course will come from primary literature describing the the physiological mechanisms of heaing in animal preparations.  However, where appropriate, the processes of human hearing will be introduced.

582. (PHRM540, PSYC605) Behavioral Neuropharmacology. (J)

584. Neurobiology of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms. (M) Allan Pack.

The objectives of this course are: to discuss and evaluate mechanisms controlling sleep and circadian rhythms; to survey novel approaches to investigations in these areas; indicate the clinical relevance of these ideas were possible.  About half the course consists of core lectures on basic rhythms, sleep, and their neural substrates.  The rest of the lectures are devoted to special topics which change from year to year.

SM 587. Neurobiology of Disease. (J) Marc Dichter. Prerequisite(s): Working knowledge of biology and chemistry. Corequisite(s): Permission of course director.

This course is designed to familiarize neuroscientists with basic information about a number of important neurological and psychiatric disease, focusing on a relatively brief clinical description of the condition and a more in depth discussion of what is currently understood about the basic pathobiology of the disorder.

        The course is divided into two parts: on Tuesday afternoons there will be a formal didactic teaching session.  The first part of each lecture (1/2 hour to 1 hour) will be devoted to a discussion of the disease in question and the second part will consist of one or two student presentations (in lieu of a paper or exam) reviewing in depth one critical neuroscience component of the disease.  Each student will work with the course director or an assigned faculty member to develop her/his lecture.  On Thursday afternoons, a faculty member will present a research seminar or chalk talk describing the research she or he is conducting in that particular disease.  Papers will be provided before the seminar so the students will be familiar with the research.  It is expected that having a research seminar given after the introductory lecture will allow the students to become familiar in depth with at least one approach to each disease.

SM 592. (PSYC604) Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory. (K) Sharon Thompson-Schill. Prerequisite(s): none. Corequisite(s): none.

This course will review the neural mechanisms of learning and memory. Readingswill include both seminar and cutting-edge papers on topics ranging from perceptual memory to higher order functions, including working memory, declarative memory, skill learning, and semantic memory.  Within each topic we will attempt to integrate the results of different neuroscience approaches, including the study of human neurological patients, lesion studies and single unit recordings in animals, neural network modeling, event-related potentials, and functional imaging techniques.

593. Structural Neurobiology. (B) Peter Sterling.

This course presents brain structure on all levels from gross morphology to microcircuity to synaptic architecture.  It is a lab course which emphasizes learning to find your way around the brain using maps at various levels of resolution.  We emphasize learning to "read" the structures and learning the modern methods of studying functional neural architecture.  This includes, methods for tracing pathways and identifying chemical architecture.  Also, advanced methods of light microscopy will be covered including flourescence, video-DIC, confocal.

594. (BE  520) Computational Neuroscience. (B) Finkel. Prerequisite(s): Previous coursework in physiology and in differential equations and some familiarity with computers, or instructor's permission.

Theoretical studies of neural function from the molecular to the cognitive level.  Emphasis on organization and function of neural maps, synaptic plasticity, vision, and recent neural network models of higher brain functions and on neurobiological problems that are well suited to computational study.

596. (PHRM510) Neurochem - Neuropharm. (B) Steve Thomas. Prerequisite(s): Permission of course director.

The goals of this course are: a) to provide students with a general overview of the biochemical properties of the nervous system; b) to provide students with in-depth information on particular neurotransmitter and effector systems. Emphasis will be placed on the wealth of new molecular information that is being gathered to examine how cells of the nervous system function and communicate.  To achieve these goals, the course is divided into 4 sections: 1) overview of neuroanatomy and general neurochemistry; 2) specific neurotransmitters and neuromodulators; 3) molecular approaches to the study of signalling in CNS; 4) current topics in neuropharmacology.  There will be 3 exams that roughly correlate with the first 3 sections.  The fourth section will entail student presentations toward the end of the semester.

597. (CAMB597) Developmental Neurobiology. (A) Jeff Golden.

The developmental neuroscience course opens with a brief summary of classical experimental embryology and key developmental concepts.  Topics covered in the course include: invertebrate and vertebrate pattern formation; neural cell determination; growth cone guidance; synapse formation and plasticity; programmed cell death; neural growth factors; special sense organ development. Each week includes two lectures and a small group discussion in which one or two important papers are analyzed in detail.  Each student must write three short grant-style reports (approximately 2 pages each).  No exams are given.

598. Advanced Systems Neuroscience. (A) Gary Aston-Jones. Prerequisite(s): Core III or Permission of course director.

This course will evaluate neural function from a systems perspective, using 4 different brain systems as examples: noradrenergic, olfactory, sleep and vestibular. (i) G.  Aston-Jones will describe the neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology and behavioral properties of the locus coeruleus and A1/A2 noradrenergic brain systems.  He will use these basic circuit properties to examine hypothesis for roles of these systems in addiction and cognitive function. (ii) M.  Ma will focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying olfactory information coding and processing. This section will deal with one basic question, i.e., what enables us to detect and discriminate thousands of odors. (iii) M.  Frank will review the behavioral and electrophysiological features of REM and nonREM sleep, as well as the underlying anatomical structures and neurotransmitter/neurohumeral systems that generate and modulate each state.  Several theories of sleep function, including the possible role of sleep in neuronal metabolism, brain development and learning and memory will be reviewed. (iv)D.  Solomon will detailthe neural circuitry and physiological mechanisms involved in balance and other vestibular functions.

618. Recovery After Neural Injury. (K) B.  Neumar.

The human nervous system is subject to several types of injury, (traumatic, ischemic, epileptic, demyelinating and/or inflamatory) that cause serious functional deficits.  The mechanisms used by the central and peripheral nervous systems for functional recovery from these injuries will be described in this course.  The molecular and cellular pathobiology of CNS injury will be reviewed and methods to enhance functional recovery will be discussed in detail.  These include the limitation of secondary neuronal damage by pharmacological manipulations (neuroprotection), the promotion of regeneration,and plasticity, the application of bioengineering strategies, and the use of behavioral rehabilitative approaches.  Course Format: a combination of lecture, journal club stype student presentations and classroom discussion.

631. (PSYC631) Cognitive Neuroscience Affect. (K) Martha Farah.

We will survey, and as far as possible synthesize, three bodies of literature on emotion and the brain, specifically: (1) neuroimaging and pharmacologic studies of emotion and the normal human brain; (2) the neuroscience of affective disorders in humans; and (3) relevant studies of reinforcement and learning in animals.  (Fulfills the "Brain" requirement)

632. (PSYC632) Cognitive Neuroscience Vision. (K) Russell Epstein.

This course will review the neural basis of visual cognition.  Emphasis will be placed on linking cognitive theory to neuroscientific methods.  Topics will include object and face recognition, scene perception, visual attention, mental imagery, and visual awareness.

SM 727. (PSYC727) Electronics for Scientists. (B) John Andrews-Labenski.

An introductory theory and practicum course covering the essential principles and applications of electronics.  Emphasis is on understanding basic electricity, measurements, instrumentation, circuit simulation, data acquisition, and computer control systems used in research environments.

Department of Bioengineering
School of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Pennsylvania
210 S. 33rd Street
Room 240 Skirkanich Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone No.: (215) 898-8501
Fax No.: (215) 573-2071
beoffice@seas.upenn.edu

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