Kavli Institute of Brain Science at Columbia University

 

W4011:  "Circuits in the Brain: Invertebrate Neurobiology"      Fall 09.

 

 

Meeting times: Fridays 9am-11am. Fairchild 1014 (10th floor “Fishbowl”)

 

Instructor: Rafael Yuste, Professor, Dept. Biological Sciences, 1002 Fairchild, rmy5@columbia.edu, Phone: 854-2354

 

Office Hours: By arrangement

 

Credits: 3

 

Text: (available in BookCulture and the Columbia Bookstore)

Required:

Brain architecture: understanding the basic plan. By Larry W. Swanson

Oxford University Press US, 2003

ISBN 0195105052, 9780195105056

 

Also: Articles chosen from the relevant literature.

 

Description:

            This course is an advanced seminar that will review current knowledge about the computations carried out by circuits present in the CNS. This year the seminar will focus on anatomical design principles, comparing different species, in order to identify the potential functional logic of CNS design.

            The class will run as a seminar discussion, where it is assumed that every student will have studied the reading material ahead of time and will be knowledgeable enough to explain it.

 

Targeted audience: W3004 and W3005, or similar courses, are ideal background for the course. To maintain a small class size and ensure the participation of all students in all the discussions, only 10 students will be admitted. Graduate students are welcome but undergraduate students in their final year majoring in Neuroscience and Behaviour will have preference. Auditors will not be accepted.

            Instructor permission is necessary for registration,

 

Grading: An short (maximum 5 page) essay on any of the topics discussed in the course is due on the last day of class and will be used for the final grade, together with evaluation of class participation.