Introduction to Neuroscience: From Neuron to Synapse      (2009-2010)

 

 

Dr. Ilan Lampl, Prof. Eitan Reuveny, Prof. Menahem Segal and Dr. Nachum Ulanovsky

 

 

Time:  The 2nd semester of 2009-2010.  Meetings take place on Sundays, between 9 – 11 am. 

Location:  Feinberg Graduate School, Room C

 

 

The brain is a complex system that operates on multiples spatial and temporal scales.  This course will provide an introduction to the function of the basic element of the brain – the neuron – and the synaptic interactions between neurons.  The course will serve both as an introduction to the field of Neuroscience for novices who come from other disciplines such as exact sciences, as well as an advanced course for biologists who studied some of these topics before at a more basic level.  As well as providing a historical overview and covering many key biological facts essential for today's brain research, the course will also focus on some of the central mathematical models of the neuron, and will summarize key principles and concepts.

 

The topics that will be covered are:

 

  1. Introduction: The structure and basic function of Neurons.  (Ulanovsky)   [14/3/2010]    [PDF]
  2. The Ionic basis of the resting potential: Nernst equation, Goldman equation. Pumps. (Lampl)   [28/3/2010]    [PDF]
  3. Passive membrane properties.  Equivalent electrical circuit.  Cable theory: derivation, solutions, and implications for neuronal function.  (Lampl)   [11/4/2010]    [PDF]
  4. Active membrane properties and the action potential. Hodgkin Huxley experiments and model.  (Lampl)   [18/4/2010]    [PDF]

5.      Hodgkin Huxley model.  Propagation and back-propagation of action potentials.  (Lampl)   [25/4/2010]   [PDF]     [m-file of H&H simulation]

  1. Introduction to Synaptic Transmission.  Synaptic physiology: endplate potentials, quantal release and its statistical distribution, vesicles.  Mathematical models of synaptic transmission.  Voltage-gated and ligand-gated transmission (including glutamate and GABA).  The reversal potential.  Synaptic integration in space and time.  Chemical synapses versus electrical synapses.   (Lampl)   [16/5/2010]   [PDF]
  2. Diversity of Ion Channels: Permeability, electrophysiology, single-channel recordings, channel structure. Ligand-gated ion channels (glutamate, GABA, glycine, serotonin, calcium…). Mechanisms of action of voltage-gated channels.   (Reuveny)   [30/5/2010]   [PDF]
  3. Synaptic Transmission: Presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms.  Presynaptic molecular mechanisms.  Postsynaptic – Receptors: Molecular cascades, pharmacological manipulations.  (Reuveny)   [6/6/2010]    [PDF]

9.      Solutions to Exercises & Preparation for exam.  (Lampl & Reuveny)   [13/6/2010]

10.  Neuronal Plasticity: NMDA versus AMPA receptors; Long-term potentiation (LTP) and beyond;  Short-term synaptic depression and facilitation.    (Segal)   [20/6/2010]   [PDF] 

 

 

Course requirements:  10% exercises, 90% exam.   All the exercises must be submitted (2-3 exercises).

 

 

Exercise:  Exercise 1 is given here:  [Exercise 1]

 

 

 

Bibliography:


- Purves et al., Neuroscience, 3rd edition (2004).

- Kandel et al., Principles of Neural Science, 5th edition (2008).

- Johnston & Wu, Foundations of cellular neurophysiology (1994).

 

Johnston & Wu (1994) is the most mathematically advanced of these 3 books.  Those students who wish to read further (beyond the scope of the current course), you can find PDF scans of several chapters from Johnston & Wu (1994) below, as well as questions (exercises) and their solutions from Johnston & Wu (note that each odd-numbered page was erroneously scanned twice ; also - print on A4 pages using "landscape" orientation):

    [chapter 2] ,  [chapter 3] ,  [chapter 4] ,  [chapter 6] ,  [chapter 11] ,  [chapter 13] ,  [Questions] ,  [Answers]