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Biology/NS&B 245: Neurophysiology
Gloster Aaron Fall 2016 TuesThurs 10:20-11:40 AM
SCIE 109
Course description
A nervous system transduces signals from the external and internal environment of an
organism, processes those signals within networks of neurons, and ultimately delivers outputs via
motor neurons. These systems depend on rapid and adaptable communication between neurons.
The goal of this course is to understand how neurons communicate with each other and create useful
network behavior. An understanding of some basic concepts in electricity is crucial in this as the
neuron actively creates a voltage gradient and is packed with voltage-sensing proteins that underlie
its ability to communicate.
Rough outline of what we will learn
The course is broken into three sections. The first section studies the single neuron in detail. The 2 nd
section studies synaptic physiology, the communication between neurons.
The 3rd section
incorporates these lessons for the study of neurons working together in systems, with a focus on
sensory-motor systems and the neurophysiology of epilepsy.
No assigned textbook.
Reading materials will be distributed as handouts. Some of these will be taken from the textbook:
Bear, Connors, and Paradiso, Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain. Any readings from this textbook will
also be available as photocopies in case you don’t own the textbook.
Problem sets
The problem sets are voluntary, but I’m very confident they will help you learn the material and boost
your performance on the exams. The format of the problem sets will be very similar to the format of
the exams. You should do every problem set. I will also hand out exams from previous years.
Grading
There are three closed-book examinations, two during the semester and the 3rd during finals week.
Each exam comprises 1/3 of your grade. If you have a learning disability, then please let me know as
soon as possible so that appropriate accommodations are arranged.
Assistance and office hours
Office: Shanklin 211A. phone: 860-685-3197 email: [email protected]
I’m available for drop-in (without an appointment) Thursday 1pm-3pm. I’m also available by
appointment during the week, and I encourage you to schedule appointments with me
directly.
Bio 245
TENTATIVE course schedule
DATE
TOPIC
Tues 9/6
Introduction to the course. Review of the neuronal membrane and various terms used
throughout the course. Review of basic concepts in electricity. Ohms law.
Capacitance. Electrical circuit diagrams. The membrane time constant. Altering the
membrane potential. A time constant equation: V(t) = V0 + ΔVmax(e-t/τ).
Thur 9/8
Time constant problems (cont). Introduction to the space constant equation. The
relationship of materials and diameter to the speed and decay of electrical signal
propagation through cables and dendrites.
Tues 9/13
The membrane potential as an active process. The Nernst relation. The fundamental
building blocks of the resting membrane potential. The balancing of forces resulting
from concentration and voltage gradients. The Goldman-Hodkin-Katz equation.
Driving force. Ion pumps.
Thur 9/15
Voltage-gated channels. The action potential (AP). Hodgkin and Huxley and voltage
clamping. Single channel recordings.
Tues 9/20
Recording action potentials (cont). Intracellular and extracellular methods of detecting
APs. The speed of action potential propagation and myelination.
Thur 9/22
Potassium channels and their roles in sculpting action potentials.
Tues 9/27
Bursting and oscillations. H and T currents
Thur 9/29
Review session, discussion.
Tues 10/4
Exam 1
Bring a calculator for this exam
Thur 10/6
Basic synaptic physiology. Gap junction vs. chemical synapse. NMJ vs. neocortical
synapse. npq
Tues 10/11
Ionotropic receptors review. EPSPs vs. IPSPs. Desensitization. Fast-spiking neurons
vs. pyramidal cells.
Thur 10/13
Synaptic integration. Spatial and temporal summation. Shunting inhibition. Spines and
shafts
Tues 10/18
The vesicle hypothesis. The dynamics of calcium and vesicles in the presynaptic
terminal. Short-term synaptic plasticity. Determining the locus of plasticitypresynaptic or postsynaptic? CV analysis
Thur 10/20
Long-term synaptic plasticity: NMDA-dependent LTP/LTD.
Fall break
Thur 10/27
GPCRs diff types. Shortcut, cAMP, PLC pathways. Retrograde synaptic transmission
Tues 11/1
Long-term synaptic plasticity cont. Spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP).
Thur 11/3
Review session and discussion
Tues 11/8
Exam II
Thur 11/10
Malfunction of neuronal circuits: introduction to seizures
Tues 11/15
The neurophysiology of epilepsy: seizures with a focus
Thur 11/17
The neurophysiology of epilepsy: non-focal seizures
Tues 11/22
NO CLASS
Thanksgiving break
Tues 11/29
Sensory transduction. Mechanoreceptors. Touch (somatosensory)
Thur 12/1
Somatosensory sensory transduction, cont. Proprioception. Preprocessing of sensory
information.
Tues 12/6
Central pattern generators and motion
Thur 12/8
The neurophysiology of lamprey swimming
TBD
Exam III during final exam week