Neuroscience

authors from Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Special attention will be given to the author’s literary style, themes developed and to the ideological content of each piece. Students will also get a glimpse of this region’s historical and sociopolitical conditions. At the end of the semester paticipants will have acquired an appreciation of the literature of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean as well as a better understanding of the complex issues affecting this interesting region. Conducted in English. Fall semester, odd years. 4 credits

NEURO2201 Neurobiology with Lab

Natural Scinece Lab (NSL)

This course is designed to introduce students to the exciting and ever-evolving field of neuroscience from molecular to behavioral levels. Consideration of the fundamentals of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neurochemistry as they relate to brain function is emphasized. Topics include neuronal communication, sensory, motor and autonomic systems, learning and memory, neuronal plasticity and higher level functioning with a focus on behavior. Throughout the course, examples from current research and clinical references will be utilized to reinforce and illustrate key concepts. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Fall semester. 4 credits Prerequisite: BIOL1105 or permission of instructor $100 lab fee

NEURO3000 Experimental Neuroscience and Lab Neuroscience is a very broad, complex field of study. The goal of this course is to acquaint you with tools you will use to conduct certain types of neuroscience research and critically think about the world around us. You will learn about huge breakthroughs in our understanding of the brain, both in the past and at this moment. You will work with large data sets and quantify real data. You will learn skills to help you better assess journal articles describing research conducted by other scientists, analyze the results of experiments graphically and statistically, and present your findings via written papers and PowerPoint presentations. Deeply significant ethical challenges will be discussed and influence your perspective of art, biotechnology, law, policy-making, science writing for the masses, and business. This course has the potential to—

figuratively and literally—change minds! Spring semester. 4 credits Prerequisites: NEURO2201, CHEM1102 and PSYCH2802 and junior standing $100 lab fee

NEURO3137 Medical Neuroscience This course is designed with the future medical student and health professional in mind. Lecture content will focus on diseases and disorders of the nervous system. Clinical case studies will be discussed, thus making this a good course for pre-med students. While there is no separate laboratory, students will participate in class on group projects working on clinical cases as if they were working in the medical field. This course is an upper-level elective course for completing the neuroscience concentration. Fall semester. 4 credits Prerequisite: NEURO2201 or permission of instructor

NEURO3205 Neuroendocrinology This course will examine the relationships between hormones, the brain and behavior. We will approach this from a biological psychology perspective, thus we will begin with an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the endocrine systems, the chemistry of hormones, and the cellular and molecular features of hormone action. We will follow by looking at a number of behaviors and their regulation by hormones. Fall semester. 4 credits Prerequisite: NEURO2201 or instructor permission

NEURO3214 Psychopharmacology The framework of the course includes: (1) Introduction to the principal concepts in pharmacology, such as pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and drug-drug interactions. (2) A brief review of the mechanisms of action of difference drugs in the central nervous system. (3) A thorough introduction to different classes of psychoactive compounds, including drugs used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders as well as psychoactive drugs of abuse. Special topics of interest will include the study of pharmacological treatments available for major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to define and discuss the principles of the pharmacotherapy currently available for the treatment of major psychiatric disorders, as well as the underlying mechanisms of drugs of abuse, and will be able to interpret and critically evaluate new findings in the field. Spring semester. 4 credits Prerequisites: NEURO2201 or permission of instructor

NEURO3216 Neurobiology of Addiction This advanced course will examine our current understanding of the effects drugs of abuse on the brain and behavior and our current understanding of the development of severe substance use disorders or addiction. Students will develop and hone skills in reading, interpreting, and communicating primary literature in neuroscience. Students will learn about drugs of abuse and the brain through close-reading of primary literature and presenting this information in a variety of modes including summarizing a neuroscience research article for the public. Spring semester, odd years. 4 credits Prerequisite: NEURO2201

NEURO4160 Senior Seminar in Neuroscience Students read and discuss current research and give in-depth oral presentations. Topics may include: human genetic disorders, endocrinology, biochemistry of development, neuroscience, molecular biology, reproductive physiology, genomics, cancer biology, advanced physiology or others. The neuroscience seminar section satisfies the seminar requirement for neuroscience and majors and biology majors with a

concentration in neuroscience. Spring semester. 4 credits Neuroscience Seminar section prerequisite: NEURO2201 or permission of instructor

NEURO4178 Directed Study A student, with departmental approval, may pursue research or applied experience in a specialized area in neuroscience under the personal direction of one or more members of the department. Offered as needed. 4 credits Prerequisite: Junior or senior status or permission of instructor

NEURO4282/NEURO4283 Neuroscience Internship I and II NEURO 4282 and 4283 comprise a twosemester course that requires neuroscience majors to undertake an internship, either on campus under the supervision of a faculty member, or off-campus at another institution or other location. Students identify an internship based on their career interests and professional goals. Students can either (a) develop and implement their own research study or participate in executing an existing study under the supervision of another researcher or (b) gain substantial proficiency in a clinical health care setting or other professional setting. Students are expected to complete 125 hours per semester at their site. In addition to gaining significant professional experience through their internship site, students will write a neuroscience thesis paper and engage in professional development activities guided by course faculty. Fall and spring semesters. 4 credits (8 credits total) Prerequisites: INT1001, PSYCH1501, PSYCH2801, PSYCH2802, attendance at (1) capstone information session, application submission by mid-February, and senior status. Students who wish to study abroad during their junior year must submit their application by the Friday before Winter Break. Credit granted upon completion and acceptance of the work. NEURO4284 Neuroscience Internship NEURO 4284 is for senior Neuroscience majors who, by exception, need to complete their senior internship requirement condensed into one semester. Students will identify an on campus or off campus internship based on their career interests and professional goals and will obtain an internship in a research setting, health care setting, or other setting. Students are expected to complete 250 hours at their site. In addition to gaining significant professional experience through their internship site, students will write a neuroscience thesis paper and engage in professional development activities guided by course faculty. Fall and spring semesters. 4 credits Prerequisites: INT1001, PSYCH1501, PSYCH2801, PSYCH2802, attendance at (1) capstone information session, application submission by mid-February, and senior status. Students who wish to study abroad during their junior year must submit their application by the Friday before Winter Break. Credit granted upon completion and acceptance of the work.