Transcript 3600L1.html.ppt

Psychology 3600
Fundamental Neurobiology
Fall 2002
Instructor: Glen Prusky
Office: EP-1220
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 329.5161
Internet:www.CerebralMechanics.com
Psychology 3600
Fall 2002
Course Assistant: Trevor McGill
Office: EP-1244
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 394.3937
Office Hours: Wednesday 3:00-4:00 PM
Thursday 2:00-3:00 PM
Text
Course Outline
This course is intended to be a second
course in neuroscience after Psychology 2600,
and a first in-depth course in cellular and
molecular neurobiology following Biology
2000. The emphasis will be on understanding
the structure and function of the neuron and
the nervous system. I assume that students
have no in-depth familiarity with biological
science, but be forewarned: this course is
primarily a biology course.
Course Material
Material for classroom lectures will be derived from all
chapters of the textbook and topics will be covered in
roughly the same order as the chapters appear in the book.
Some chapters will be covered relatively quickly, whereas
others will be covered in more depth, reflecting my view of
the difficulty and relevance of the material. It should be
obvious from each lecture, which chapter in the textbook is
relevant, but I will endeavor to announce the topic of the
upcoming lecture. Material in some lectures may not be
covered in the text. This is because information changes
rapidly in this field, my ideas about what is important in
neuroscience changes, or I think that other material is
useful for illustrating important concepts.
Examination Format
There will be 3 exams in the class; two midterms
each worth 30% of your total mark for the course, and
a final exam worth 40%. Examination material will be
derived from information in the text and from that
which has been presented in class. The format of the
exams will be short answer and short essay and will
evaluate both conceptual and factual knowledge.
That is, the facts are important, but only as they
are needed to develop a conceptual understanding
of the course material. Treat the lectures, textbook,
and classroom discussions as resources to be used
by you to understand the content of the course.
Examination Dates
Midterm 1- Thursday, October 3rd
Midterm 2- Thursday, November 7th
Final- Wednesday, December 11th (tentative)
Missed Exams
There will be no make-up exams.
When there is a valid reason for
missing an exam (ie. documented
medical illness), the weight of the
missed exam will be apportioned
equally to the others.
Mark Distribution
A+ (90+)
A (85-89)
A- (80-84)
B+ (75-79)
B (70-74)
B- (65-69)
C+ (62-64)
C (59-61)
C- (56-58)
D+ (53-55)
D (45-52)
F (45-0)
Consultations
Trevor will be available during his office hours,
by e-mail or by phone, for discussions related to
this course. I am available in my office most of the
time. One of the best ways to contact me if I am
not in my office is by e-mail. There we can
discuss course-related issues or set a specific time
for a personal appointment. As a last resort, ask
the
Canadian
Centre
for
Behavioural
Neuroscience (CCBN; a.k.a., Exploration Place)
secretary, Naomi Cramer (EP-1202; 394.3979), to
page me in my laboratory.
Known Absences
I will be attending a conference from November
1-8. Consequently, there will be no class on
November 5th and I will not be here to administer
the midterm exam on November 7th. There may
be other times during the semester when I won’t
be able to attend class. If so, I will inform you via
the class listserv as soon as I have made my plans.
Brain items in the News…
Quotation
For all those who are
fascinated by the bewitchment
of the infinitely small, there
wait in the bosom of the living
being millions of palpitating
cells which, for the surrender of
their secret, and with the halo of
fame, demand only a clear and
persistent intelligence to
contemplate, admire and
understand them.
Santiago Ramon y Cajal, 1937
Next class…
Signaling in the Brain