NRSC 4400 Cellular Neuroscience
This course steps back from the systems-level approach of NRSC 4300 to look at the cells of the nervous system, the circuits they form, and their basic physiology. The course begins by explaining
the structure and physiology of neurons and glia and the ways in which they interact. Then the course takes a dive into psychopharmacology, exploring the actions of neurotransmitters at the synaptic and systems level, and discussing the actions of centrally acting drugs on brain activity and behavior. Then the course looks at neural circuits from localized microcircuits to the connectome. Building on this understanding of neural dynamics, the course considers the relationship between rhythmic brain activity and behavior, with a focus on sleep. Before moving to the final section of the course, the class will pause and consider what can be learned about behavior by studying the brain at the cellular level. The closing section of the course is a study of the neuroscience of mental disorders.
This section considers two questions: 1. What does neuroscience tell us about mental disorders? and 2. What do mental disorders tell us about brain and behavior? You will have enough understanding of the cellular neuroscience to answer these questions critically.
Prerequisite
Required:
NRSC 4300; Recommended: PSYC 1101, PSYC 3360