Jan 13, 2012
BISC-230Lg
Brain, Mind and Machines
Topics in Neuroscience
Spring Semester 2012
Class No. 13014R, 4 Units
Time: 12:00 – 1:50
Mon/Wed SAL 101
Instructor
Dr. John P. Walsh
Office: GER244; 213-740-4908
OH: Wed, 10-12 AM and by appointment (GER 244)
Lab Director: Dr. Michael Moore
Office: 371B SCI; 740-6084
TAs:
Dalton Combs, Yupeng Xiao, and Tong Sheng,
Course Description:
This course is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself into the brain to gain new understanding aboutits workings and how it makes you the person you are. This course uses a multimedia approach that will allow you to take ownership over how you learn the material. Animations will be used in class to deliver facts necessary to gaining knowledge about nerves, brain structure, and the physiology of human behavior. Videos documenting scientific investigations into neuroscience and videos examining the human condition of brain disease will be used in class as well to compliment the backbone of neuroscience knowledge you gainthroughout the course.My hope is this multimedia experience in your neuroscience education will enrich your life, provide you with a more compassionate understanding of human behavior and expose you to the present and future oftechnology in treating brain disease.
Lecture materials:
A majority of the course will be taught by me in class using a website we developed at USC for Neuroscience education. The website is called “USC Online Multimedia Teaching Tool (OMTT) in Neuroscience”. The url is:
I will use it in lecture to educate you and you will have total access to it at all times (it is open access). It is designed to provide basic learning in neuroscience, but the opportunity is there for advanced learners to go way beyond what is expect for successful completion of this course. The choice is yours for how far you want to dive into the material.
OnlineTextbook:
USC’s OMTT in Neuroscience provides links to a number of online textbooks in neuroscience, so the good news is there is no required text for the course. You just need a computer with access to the internet. The two most valuable textbook resources available online for this class are found within the OMTT. They are:
“Neuroscience Online: An electronic textbook for the Neurosciences”, editor, John H. Byrne.
This text is referred to as “UT” in the syllabus readings for the University of Texas where it was produced.
“The Brain From Top to Bottom”, Developed by Bruno Duboc, Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
This text is referred to as “Brain” in the syllabus reading assignments.
Other supportive readings for the course will be provided electronically on Blackboard.
Let’s get used to using Pubmed too!
Laboratory experience:
The laboratory parallels much of what is presented in class to offer a more hands-on version of the material. It begins with the basics of neuron structure and physiology and then goes through how we sense the environment, how the brain processes it into “perception”, memory, physiological states like stress (like midterms and finals), sleep and brain-machine comparisons.
The laboratory is also the place where you will make your oral presentations.
Grading:
Three formal tests (2 midterms and one final) will be given covering both the lectures and reading material. A majority of the questions will come from lectures. Each of the three exams will be worth 120 points. All tests will consist of several types of questions (essay, short answer, multiple choice, matching, etc.). The material of the first midterm will be limited to that covered during the first part of the semester. The second midterm will cover the material presented after the first midterm. The final exam may cover material from the last 3rd of the course.
One term paper and one oral presentation are required and are worth a total of 100 points. Details concerning both the paper and the presentation are given later in the syllabus.
The laboratory/discussion is an integral and important part of this course and is worth 100 points. Every student is expected to participate in all aspects of the laboratory. Details about the laboratories will be provided separately.
Additional points can be obtained by using the clicker during the lectures and by completing online chapter quizzes for each of the OMTT chapters. You will need to register with the OMTT first and then use the login option when you take the quiz. This quiz part of programming in the OMTT is still in development and it should be ready by the time the course starts in January. Each student should get a clicker and register it on Blackboard. Clicker-Quizzes will be done each lecture. You will not be graded for the correct answer and will get full credit just by participating during the lecture. There will be approximately two questions asked each lecture over 26 lectures with a total of 20 points to be obtained through clicker participation. Completion of the OMTT quizzes gains you 20 points. Clickers and OMTT quizzes combined is 40 points. Again, only OMTT quiz and clicker participation is considered, not how well you do on them.
Students are expected to take all the examinations, to complete the paper and presentation, and to participate in the assigned laboratories. Absences will be scored as 0 points unless arrangements are made with the instructor in advance. There will be no makeup exams, but students who have a valid medical reason for missing an exam may request that the grade on that exam be the average of the other exams in the course. In such a case, we will require a signed statement from the student allowing us to contact their physician to verify that a problem exists. Please note that verification of a problem will not involve finding out what the problem was; we wish only to be sure that the absence is justified. In no case will an excuse for more than one exam be accepted.
The course grade will be based on the student’s total accumulation of points toward the 600 points that are possible (120 + 120 +120 +100 + 100 + 20 +20). Grades will be assigned on a curve in which approximately the upper half of the class, based upontotal points earned, will receive A’s and B’s; approximately the lower half will receive C’s or lower. Final decisions concerning the points required for each grade level will be made by the instructors. Class and laboratory participation will be considered in borderline cases. Please note that the grade distribution used for this course includes all of the above and you will be compared to your peers. We grade fairly according where your grade fits in a normal distribution of final point accumulation and D’s and F’s can happen in BISCPSYC 230 if you do not perform.
Students with Disabilities.
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with the Office of Disability Services and Programs (DSP, STU 301, 213-740-0776) each semester. You must deliver an approved DSP letter to Dr. Price or Dr. McClure as early in the semester as possible. Please see SCampus ( for additional policies that are not covered here (i.e. academic integrity, proper conduct, etc) but that still apply.
Communication with the class.
Most of the communication between the class and instructors will use Blackboard. Blackboard is USC’s preferred method for distributing information, so you should become familiar with it. To enter the program, go to blackboard.usc.edu and enter the username and password that you use for email. You must use your USC email account; AOL, etc., will not allow you access. At the next page select our course. The course page allows you access to a number of features, of which we’ll use primarily Announcements and Course Documents.
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CLASS SCHEDULE
The material in this course will be covered in the general order given below. Lectures will be 80 minutes long, with no breaks. One of the great pleasures of a course in our General Education program is flexibility: if a student asks a penetrating question, we can take some time to explore it. Because of this, we feel that a rather free schedule for the course is preferable to a rigid presentation. Some of these subjects will require more than one lecture. In general, the lectures will follow the book organization. You will be responsible for reading the chapter before it is discussed in the lecture. Likewise, you will be responsible for reading the posted material before it is discussed in the lecture.
Tentative syllabus 10-9-9
DateLectureTitleReading
Monday 01/9Lecture 1Course overviewOMTT – Ion Channels
Syllabus
Wed. 01/11Lecture 2OMTT featuresOMTT – Ion Channels
Ion Channels – nerves are batteriesUT – Sec. 1, Chapt 1-2
Your bodies are battery operatedBrain – Simple to Complex
Monday 01/16Martin Luther King DayUniversity Holiday
Wed. 01/18Lecture 3Ion channelsOMTT - Ion channels
Resting potential & Action potentialUT – Sec. 1, Chapt. 1-3
Monday 01/23Lecture 4Ion ChannelsOMTT – Ion channels
Action potential & Computer modelingUT – Sec. 1, Chapt. 1-3
Wed. 01/25Lecture 5SynapsesOMTT - Synapses
Synapse structureUT –Sec. 1, Chapt 4-7
Incoming signal – presynaptic nerve cell
Monday 01/31Lecture 6SynapsesOMTT - Synapses
Neuron receiving signal – postsynapticUT – Sec. 1, chapters 4-7
Cellular basis of learning – synaptic plasticity
Wed. 02/02Lecture 7SynapsesOMTT - Synapses
Synaptic plasticityUT – Sec. 1, Chapt. 4-7
Eons extra credit – 1/2 gradeBrain – Simple to Complex
The Swimmy challenge - 1/2 grade
Monday 02/06Lecture 8Functional NeuroanatomyOMTT – Fun. Neuroanatomy
Basic NeuroanatomyUT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
Brain coverings & cerebral spinal fluid
Wed. 02/08Lecture 9Functional NeuroanatomyOMTT – Fun. Neuroanatomy
Cortical specializationUT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
Motor systemsBrain – Movement & the brain
Visual Cortex/PerceptionBrain – The senses
AphasiaBrain – Thought to language
Monday 02/13Midterm 1
Wed. 02/15Lecture 10Functional NeuroanatomyOMTT – Fun. Neuroanatomy
Cortical specializationUT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
Association Cortex
Prefrontal cortex
Monday 02/20Presidents Day University Holiday
Wed. 02/22Lecture 11Functional NeuroanatomyOMTT – Fun. Neuroanatomy
Cortical specializationUT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
Association cortexBrain – Memory and Brain
Memory
Monday 02/27Lecture 12Functional NeuroanatomyOMTT – Fun. Neuroanatomy
Cortical specializationUT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
Brain lateralizationBrain – Thought to language
Right brain, left brain
Wed. 02/29Lecture 11Functional NeuroanatomyOMTT – Fun. Neuroanatomy
Limbic systemUT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
EmotionBrain – Memory and Brain
Learning and memory
Psychological Stress (Sapolsky video)
Monday 03/05Lecture 14Biogenic AminesOMTT – Biogenic Amines
Dopamine & PleasureUT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
Dopamine & Drug addictionBrain – Emotions and the brain
Dr. Walsh – The Body Issue videoBrain – Mental disorders
Wed. 03/07Lecture 15Biogenic AminesOMTT – Biogenic Amines
Dopamine and attention deficit disorder UT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
(ADD and ADHD)Brain – Emotions and the brain
ADD and Loving it videoBrain – Mental disorders
Monday 03/12Spring Break
Wed. 03/14Spring Break
Monday 03/19 Lecture 16Biogenic AminesOMTT – Biogenic Amines
Dopamine & bipolar diseaseUT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
Dopamine & SchizophreniaBrain – Mental disorders
Dopamine & Parkinson’s disease
Wed. 03/21Lecture 17Biogenic AminesOMTT – Biogenic Amines
Noradrenaline: Fight or flightUT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
Noradrenaline: AnxietyBrain – Mental disorders
Monday 03/26Midterm 2
Wed. 03/28Lecture 18Biogenic AminesOMTT – Biogenic Amines
Serotonin: Social interactionsUT – Sec. 2, 3, 4
Serotonin: Synthesis & DietBrain – Mental disorders
Serotonin: Clinical Depression
Monday 04/02Lecture 19Biogenic AminesOMTT – Biogenic Amines
Serotonin: Clinical DepressionBrain – Mental disorders
No kidding! Me2! video
Wed. 04/04Lecture 20Biogenic AminesOMTT – Biogenic Amines
Histamine: Immunity, Itch, Arousal, Sleep
Monday 04/09Lecture 21Parkinson’s diseaseOMTT – Parkinson’s disease
Epidemiology: Who is at risk
Etiology: causes
Treatments
Wed. 04/11Lecture 22Electroencephalography–seizuresBlackboard articles, Powerpoint
Electrocortiocography - seizures
Monday 04/16Lecture 23Auditory system prosthesesBlackboard articles, Powerpoint
Cochlear implants
Brain stem implants
Wed. 04/18Lecture 24Retinal prosthesisBlackboard articles, Powerpoint
Monday 04/23Lecture 25Hippocampus microchipsBlackboard articles, Powerpoint
Wed. 04/25Lecture 26Virtual Reality treatment forBlackboard articles, Powerpoint
brain disease
Wed. May 4Final Exam 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Please note also the following important University dates:
Jan. 9Spring semester classes begin
Jan 16Martin Luther King day; University holiday.
Jan 27The last date to do several things: drop/add; drop without W; tuition insurance, and last day to modify P/NP choice. If you wish to change to P/NP, do it now!
Feb 20President's Day; University holiday
March 12-17Spring recess
April 6Last day to drop with a grade of W.
April 27Classes end.
Examination schedule
Examinations will be given in the classroom in which lectures are presented. The two hourly exams will be planned to take about 50 minutes, but students will have the full 80 minutes of the class period to complete them. The final examination will be taken at the university’s scheduled time.
Feb 13First midterm examination
March 26Second Midterm examination
April 4Term paper due by 5 pm to Dr. Moore
May 4Final Exam 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE TERM PAPER
BISC 230
Topics in Neuroscience
The term paper should be 7-10 pages in length, double spaced and machine-printed in a manner that is normal for formal presentations (don't use 18 point type to fill the space). Please don't exceed 10 pages. Any style that you wish to use is fine, as long as it is used consistently and is in accord with the usual formal presentations of your field. Electronic copies only, no hard copies.
Each paper must be annotated with a minimum of 4-10 references to the scientific or popular literature. The references must demonstrate evidence that the student has read at least two articles from a scientific journal or one of the sources listed below. The presentation must be an original work by the student involved, and must have been verified using TurnItIn. Plagiarism in this matter, as in connection with everything concerning this course and your University activities, is strictly forbidden and will be treated with the usual University rules if it is encountered.
Subject Matter
I want you to chose a topic in neuroscience that has affected you personally. Examples might be a friend with drug addiction. A family member or friend with clinical depression. Your own personal experience with ADD or ADHD. A parent or grandparent who suffered a stroke, suffers from Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. Someone you know who had post-traumatic stress syndrome. Someone you know who has had seizures. I want you to fully describe your feelings about that experience; to personalize it and to tie it to what you learn in class and what you read to support the paper. Be creative! That is what writing should be. If you are in doubt as to whether a subject is suitable or not, please present it to me, the instructor, or one of the teaching assistants prior to the 6th week of class. I also want everyone to pass a rough draft by your TA by the 6th as well, just to make sure you are on track. The final draft of your paper is due on Wed, April 4 to Dr. Moore.
Sources of Material
There exist a large variety of different reference sources. These include the following popular level scientific magazines:
Scientific AmericanScienceNature (any version)
American ScientistDiscover
The New ScientistThe Sciences
Any of these sources can serve as a rich supply of ideas and information. You may use references from any of these sources freely. You will often find excellent articles in Time, Newsweek, the newspapers, (particularly the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times), and other news periodicals. These are also quite satisfactory as sources, but must be appropriately referenced. Go Online to find it!
In addition to the popular magazines concerning science, there exist a number of more formal scientific journals used by the professionals in the field. You will usually find these articles too advanced to be read easily, but you may certainly use them if you wish. In particular, review articles in journals such as Trends in Neuroscience and Trends in Pharmacology are often of value.
The World Wide Web is an excellent source of information and ideas. The Web and associated electronic means of communication are changing our society. While they are very powerful, be careful of information from the Web. This material is almost completely unrefereed, and may (and often does) contain significant errors. You are responsible for checking your sources to be sure that the information you report is correct. This is a significant part of modern scholarship. You may not use the Web asyour only source of information.
Some web sites of value are:
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You may trust any information from these excellent governmental web sites.
Finally, there are a wide variety of medical journals. Many of these are written for physicians and are difficult to read, but some are written for a less highly trained audience. This latter group should be understandable by you as we move into the second half of the course. You may feel free to include references from any of these.
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