Fall 2006
Lectures: Tu/Th 4:10-5:25; 417 International Affairs Building
Recitations:
Graduate students: Tuesday
Group I: Tuesday
Group II: Thursday
Group III: Tuesday
Group IV: Monday 6:30 in room 700
Fairchild TA: Dara
Sosulski
Instructor:
Jian Yang, jy160@columbia.edu
Office Hours by appointment through e-mail;
Teaching
Assistants (the dream team!):
Josh Dudman jtd2001@columbia.edu
Angela Gee alg2021@columbia.edu
Dara Sosulski dls2128@columbia.edu
Gulsen Surmeli gs2241@columbia.edu
Kristen Werner kmw2115@columbia.edu
Required Text: Principles of Neural Science, 4th ed., 2000.
Eric Kandel, James Schwartz and Thomas Jessell
McGraw-Hill Companies,
Supplemental Texts:
Neuroscience, 3rd ed., 2004, Purves et al.
Sinauer Associates,
From Neuron to Brain, 4th ed., 2001, Nicholls et al.
Sinauer
Associates,
Recitations: A strong emphasis is placed on readings from the primary literature, which will be discussed in weekly recitations. Students will read and discuss in depth selected research papers. Attendance of the recitations is mandatory and active participation will count in the final grade. Materials discussed in the recitations will be included in the exams.
Class Attendance: Attendance is not taken, however material will be presented in lectures that is not available in the text and which will appear on examinations
Exams and Grading: Exams and Grading: Three exams and a final examination are given. Each exam will cover material since the previous exam. The final examination is entirely on papers from the primary literature. The lowest grade of the three periodic exams will be dropped (students may choose to take only two tests). The remaining exams will each contribute 30% towards the semester grade; the final will contribute 35% and is required. 5% will come from recitation attendance and participation. No make-up exams will be allowed except in cases of serious illness or personal crisis and the student is required to present a letter from the undergraduate dean as well as other supporting evidence (such as doctor’s notes, airline tickets etc.).
SCHEDULE
Sept. 5: Lecture
1. Introduction, Cell Biology of the
Neuron
(Chapter 2, 4)
Sept. 7: Lecture
2. Ionic Basis of the Resting
Membrane Potential
(Chapter 7)
Sept. 12: Lecture
3. Ion Channels
(Chapter 6)
Sept. 14: Lecture
4. Ion Channels
(Chapter 6)
Recitation 1: Doyle et al., “The structure of the potassium
channel: molecular basis of
K+ conduction and
selectivity”. Science 280, 69-77 (1998).
Sept. 19: Lecture
5. Targeting, Trafficking and
Localization of Ion Channels
slides
Sept. 21: Lecture
6. Passive Electrical Properties of
the Neuron
(Chapter 8)
Sept. 26: Lecture
7. Ionic Basis of the Action
Potential
(Chapter 9)
Sept. 28: Lecture 8. Generation and Propagation of Action Potentials
(Chapter 9)
Oct. 3: Off
Oct. 5: EXAM
I (Lectures 1-8, Recitations 1-3)
Oct. 10. Lecture
9. Synaptic Transmission: Overview,
Neuromuscular Junction
(Chapter 10, 11)
Oct. 12. Lecture
10. Synaptic Transmission:
Neuromuscular Junction, CNS
(Chapter 11, 12)
Oct. 17. Lecture 11. Synaptic Transmission: CNS
(Chapter 12)
Oct. 19. Lecture 12. Synaptic Transmission: Slow Synapses
(Chapter 13)
Recitation 4: Biederer et al., “SynCAM, a synaptic adhesion molecule that drives synapse assembly”. Science 297, 1525-1531 (2002).
Oct. 24. Lecture 13. Presynaptic Mechanisms: Transmitter Release
(Chapter 14)
Oct. 26. Lecture 14. Synaptic Plasticity: Long-term Potentiation
(Chapter 63)
Recitation 5: Fernandez-Chacon
et al. “Synaptotagmin I functions as a calcium regulator
of release probability”. Nature 410, 41-49 (2001).
This paper is required for only
graduate students, but undergraduate students may also find it interesting to
read.
Oct. 31. Lecture 15. Biochemistry of Neurotransmitters
(Chapter 15)
Nov. 2. Lecture 16. Synapse Formation and Regeneration
(Chapter 55)
Recitation 6: Shi et al., “Rapid spine
delivery and redistribution of AMPA receptors after synaptic NMDA receptor
activation”. Science 284, 1811-1816 (1999).
Part III:
Sensory Physiology
Nov. 7. Off (election day)
Nov. 9. EXAM II (Lectures 9-15, recitations 4-6)
Nov. 14. Lecture 17. Introduction: Coding of Sensory Signals
(Chapter 21)
Nov. 16. Lecture
18. Phototransduction and Color
Vision
(Chapter 26)
Recitation 7: Palczewski,
K. et al. “
Nov. 21. Lecture 19. Pain
(Chapter
24)
Nov. 23. Off
(Thanksgiving)
Recitation 8: Zheng J. et al. “Prestin is the
motor protein of cochlear outer hair cells.”
Nature 2000 May 11;405 (6783):149-55.
Nov. 28. Lecture 20. Mechanotransduction in the Ear
(Chapter 30, 31)
Nov. 30. Lecture 21. Olfaction (Chapter 32) and reading
Recitation
9: Zhang, X. and S. Firestein (2002). "The olfactory
receptor gene superfamily of the mouse." Nat Neurosci 5 (2): 124-33.
Dec. 5. Lecture
22. Taste
(Chapter 32) and reading
Dec. 7. EXAM III (Lectures 17-22, recitations 8-10)
Dec. ???. Final
exam
The final exam will
consist of three sets of questions on selected research articles. It is
suggested that you read and analyze these papers prior to the exam, since the
exam will be closed-book; i.e. you CANNOT look at the articles, notes or
textbook during the exam. You may discuss these papers with other students, but
not with the instructors or the TAs.