NEUROSCI 303-0 Molecular Mechanisms of Neuropsychopharmacology (1 Unit)  

Advanced seminar focusing on molecular mechanisms and aberrations of synaptic signal transduction and drugs that target them.

Prerequisite: NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 304-0 Developmental Neurobiology (1 Unit)  

Embryology and cellular/molecular mechanisms of nervous system development. Topics include patterning of the early embryo and nervous system, neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation and cell fate specification, axon guidance and wiring of neural circuits, and activity-, experience-, and sex-dependent neurodevelopment.

Prerequisite: NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 308-0 Genetics of Human Behavior (1 Unit)  

Covers the genetic determinants of human behavior. We discuss how "nature" (genes) and "nurture" contribute to shape individual behavior and explore the implications of this interaction, from philosophical and ethical aspects to medical and legal considerations. This course requires a basic understanding of genetics.

Prerequisite: NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 311-0 Biophysical Analysis of Neurons for ISP (1 Unit)  

This course provides an introduction to neurobiology from an electrophysiological perspective, with an emphasis on ion channel biophysics, quantitative electrical properties of neurons, synaptic physiology, and sensory transduction. Its goal is to provide a basis for understanding how information is encoded, transmitted, and decoded in brains, as well as offer an introduction to reading scientific literature. Some facility with simple equations and graphing is suggested.

Prerequisite: Students must be an ISP or NEUROSCI major to enroll.

NEUROSCI 320-0 Animal Behavior (1 Unit)  

Animal behavior from the neuroscience perspective. Neurobiological bases of foraging, communication, migration, predator-prey interactions, mating, and parental care.

Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 325-0 Neurobiology of Stress, Adversity, and Resilience (1 Unit)  

This is a writing-intensive course based on class lectures and discussion that draws from primary literature on the neurobiology of stress, stress susceptibility and resilience, to explore biological mechanisms by which adversity can influence mental health and other outcomes.

Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 360-0 Neuroscience of Brain Disorders (1 Unit)  

Survey of brain disorders and differences such as neurodegenerative diseases, developmental disorders, narcolepsy, and migraine with a focus on molecular-genetic mechanisms. Trace progress from the laboratory to the clinic, evaluate the state of knowledge, and understand future directions. Prior review of basic genetics and molecular biology is strongly recommended.

Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 365-0 Neurobiology of Prediction (1 Unit)  

This course examines neurophysiological circuit mechanisms that allow prediction to emerge in brains of (mostly) non-human animals. Topics include probability and variance, anticipation of aversive and rewarding stimuli, temporal and spatial prediction, and how cellular-level studies inform complex questions of human prediction.

Prerequisite: NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 366-0 Brain Function Through the Lens of Computation (1 Unit)  

This course introduces the building blocks of neural computation and their relevance for brain function. It first overviews key principles in neural network dynamics and neural coding. It then develops these principles by illustrating how neuroscientists use them to model sensory, motor, and cognitive functions of the brain. All topics are presented mathematically, and advanced mathematics is taught alongside neuroscience.

Prerequisite: MATH 220-2 or equivalent. Undergraduates must hold at least sophomore status.

NEUROSCI 368-0 Big Data in Contemporary Neurobiology (1 Unit)  

The increasing ease of collecting big datasets and of computational analysis is transforming the way science is done. Quantitative methods beyond those covered in a first course on scientific statistics are now commonly applied in contemporary neuroscience literature. Engaging with this literature increasingly requires a basic understanding of these methods and how their results should, and should not, be interpreted.

Prerequisites: BIOL_SCI 337-0, BMD_ENG 220-0, CSD 304-0, ES-APPM 375-1, IEMS 201-0, PSYCH 201-0, STAT 202-0, STAT 210-0, or STAT 383-0 and either: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 370-0 Genetic and Circuit Analysis of Motivated Behavior (1 Unit)  

Animals are driven to engage in behaviors that fulfill essential needs for survival, such as eating, drinking, reproduction, and social interaction. This course focuses on the neurobiology of eating through lectures, scientific article discussions, and oral presentations.

Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or NEUROSCI 311-0 and NEUROSCI 206-0; or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 371-0 Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (1 Unit)  

Growing evidence has revealed the interaction between gut microbes, the immune system, and the nervous system. This communication could change the physiology of the brain and in turn moderate behaviors, neural development, and neurological diseases. This course will introduce key topics related to the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Prerequisites: NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 206-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0.

NEUROSCI 377-0 Neurobiology of Sensation and Perception (1 Unit)  

Analysis of the key concepts underlying the neurobiological mechanisms of vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, and pain. Neural pathways leading to perception and processing of stimuli will also be discussed.

Prerequisite: NEUROSCI 202-0 or NEUROSCI 311-0 or BIOL_SCI 302-0.