SYLLABUS

PSYC 7200 Advanced Neural Mechanisms of Behavior

Fall 2015

Lectures: Tuesdays 2:00PM - 4:30PM  Gilmer 001

The class website can be found under the course number in UVA’s Collab.

Overview: This course provides a self-paced review of biological, biochemical, anatomical and physiological concepts relevant to studying neural and psychological behavior. The first half of the semester is devoted on discussing principles, advantages and limitations of different neuroscience techniques used in understanding biological basis of simple and complex behaviors (eg. sensory perception, motivation, emotional regulation), neuroplasticity (synaptic development, aging) and neuropsychological disorders. During the second half of the course, selected topics based on the interest areas of attending students will be discussed. This course is suitable for graduate students in all areas of psychology. There are no prerequisites.

Instructor: Alev Erisir  erisir@virginia.edu  Gilmer Hall 187. Office Hours: By mutual agreement.

Books and readings: Several neuroscience and neurobiology textbooks will be used, including Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, by Bear, Connors and Paradiso; Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior. By Meyer and Quenzer; From Neuron to Brain, by Nicholls, Martin et al., Molecular Neuropharmacology, by Nestler, Hyman, Malenka. All resources will be available for loan from the instructor. Primary literature resources will be downloadable.

Exams: There are no exams. Course grade will be based on attendance, 3 take-home assignments and a term paper.

Grading: Assignments will be worth 30% of the final grade. The term paper draft, which is due on November 8 will be worth 35%. Final paper will be worth 35% of final grade. Less than active participation in class reflects as one letter grade reduction on final grade. The term paper topic will be determined based on each student’s field of study. 

 

 

Course Calendar
 

Week 1 (8/25/2015):  Introductions and organizations.

 Studying neural mechanisms of behavior, from molecular biology to electrical circuits and to sensory, emotional and cognitive behavior. Hypothesis testing across disciplines.

Week 2 (9/1/2015): No meeting.

             The instructor is out of town. The students are encouraged to attend PSYC 4200 lecture on 9/2/2015 at 2pm.

Week 3 (9/8/2015):  Neurons and Circuits: Anatomical Techniques

Tract-tracing methods to reveal neuron connectivity and neuronal circuits. Input/Output charts. Information flow vs. modulation of circuits’ capacity to flow information. Localized vs. distributed function.

Week 4 (9/15/2015):  Neurons and Circuits: Techniques Measuring Activity

Electrical properties of neurons. Information capacity of activity recordings from a single neuron, group of neurons, group of circuitries and group of brain nuclei. Modulation of brain activity; life cycles, use dependent adaptation, plasticity, compensation.

Week 5 (9/22/2015): Chemical Neurotransmission: Neurotransmitter Systems

Synaptic release. Glutamate, GABA, Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin. Neuroactive peptides. Neurotransmitter vs. neurotransmitter receptors as determinants of information processing.

Week 6  (9/29/2015): Modulatory Systems: Hypothalamus, ANS

 Non-specificity neurotransmitters to behavior. Central – peripheral interactions in determination of behavior.

Week 7 (10/6/2015): Reading Days- No Class

Week 8: (10/13/2015): Principles of Neuropharmacology

 Principles of drug access to brain. Drugs are where they bind. Use of pharmacology to understand behavior and pathology. Neuropharmacology and neurotransmitter systems interactions.     

Week 9: (10/20/2015):  Neuroplasticity in Health and Disease

Mechanisms to change function of receptors, neurons, circuits, nuclei or entire brain, and their manifestations on behavior. Brain circuitries change through life-span: a blessing or a curse?

Weeks 10-15:  Topic will be determined during the first class.

Possible topics include: affective disorders; schizophrenia; neural plasticity during development, adolescence and/or aging; neuropathology of aging; addiction; attention and attention disorders; memory and memory disorders; sensory processing; cellular basis of learning.

 

Weekly meeting format: Class time will involve no more than 1hr of lecture; the remainder of class time will be used for discussions of particular aspects of the topic, based on student interest. The class time will also be used for further research, reading and analysis on the week’s topic, prompted by in-class discussions.

 

Out of class workload: The students are expected to read textbook chapters on relevant topics prior to lectures. Two to three primary literature manuscripts, which will be discussed during class, will also be assigned each week. Weekly readings can be completed in 1-2 hours. Assignments may take 2-4 hours to complete. Term paper will involve critical reading of 10-20 articles, culminating in ~ 20 page manuscript.