Medical Neuroscience

Fall Semesters Annually
Course Director: Nachum Dafny, Ph.D.

Neurobiology and Anatomy > Courses > Medical Neuroscience

Education Coordinators: Annetta Allen (phone 1.713.500.5611); Dawn Morvant (phone 1.713.500.5931)

Official Course Website

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NOTE: All users can view our Neuroscience Online courseware material, used by our first year medical students

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Course Description

Introduction to the structural and functional features of the human nervous system, including the gross anatomy of the brain and spinal cord, cellular and molecular neurobiology, the major transmitter systems and the major anatomical pathways and their functions. The emphasis is on an integrative approach to the study of the structure and function of the nervous system with lectures focusing on molecular, cellular, and systems features of brain function.

2009 Lecture Schedule

NOTE: The schedule displayed on this page is NOT updated regularly. It is posted here only to give prospective students an idea of what is typically covered in the course schedule. Current students should NOT rely on the schedule displayed here.

For the latest dates, times and meeting locations, current students of the course should view the schedule that is posted on the Official 2009 Course Website.

BLOCK 1
INSTRUCTOR
DATE
TIME
HRS.
SUBJECT
Week 1
Dr. Byrne
Mon Jan 05
8:00
1
Introduction to Neuroscience
Dr. Byrne
Mon Jan 05
9:00
1
Resting Potentials and Action Potentials
Drs. Dafny, Dash
Mon Jan 05
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Drs. Dash and Staff
Mon Jan 05
1:30
2
LABORATORY #1: External Anatomy of the Brain
Dr. Mancias
Mon Jan 05
3:30
1.5
Clinical Correlate: Principles of Neurological Examination and Clinical Post Laboratory Case
Dr. Byrne
Wed Jan 07
8:00
1
Ionic Mechanisms of Action Potentials
Dr. Byrne
Wed Jan 07
9:00
1
Propagation of Action Potentials
Dr. Byrne
Fri Jan 09
8:00
1
Synaptic Transmission at the Skeletal Neuromuscular Junction
Dr. Byrne
Fri Jan 09
9:00
1
Synaptic Transmission in the CNS
Week 2
Dr. Byrne
Mon Jan 12
8:00
1
Synaptic Plasticity
Dr. Bean
Mon Jan 12
9:00
1
Synaptic Formation/Development and Regeneration
Dr. Dafny
Mon Jan 12
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Dr. Dafny and Staff
Mon Jan 12
1:30
2
LABORATORY #2: Internal Organization of the Brain
Dr. Mancias
Mon Jan 12
3:30
0.5
Clinical Post Laboratory Case
Dr. Waymire
Wed Jan 14
8:00
1
Organization of Cell Types
Dr. Waymire
Wed Jan 14
9:00
1
Transport and Molecular Mechanisms of Secretion
Dr. Waymire
Fri Jan 16
8:00
1
Acetylcholine Neurotransmission
Dr. Waxham
Fri Jan 16
9:00
1
Amino Acid Neurotransmitters
Week 3
Holiday
Mon Jan 19
NO CLASSES
Dr. Crow
Tue Jan 20
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Dr. Crow and Staff
Tue Jan 20
1:30
2
LABORATORY #3: Ventricles, Blood Vessels and External Surface of the Brain Stem
Dr. Mancias
Tue Jan 20
3:30
0.5
Clinical Post Laboratory Case]
Dr. Waymire
Wed Jan 21
8:00
1
Biogenic Amine Neurotransmitters
Dr. Waxham
Wed Jan 21
9:00
1
Neuropeptides & Nitric Oxide
Dr. Beauchamp
Fri Jan 23
8:00
1
Principles of Structural Neuroimaging
Dr. Mancias
Fri Jan 23
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Clinical Neuroimaging
Week 4
Dr. Guynn
Mon Jan 26
10:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Neurotransmitters and Behavior
Block I Exam
Thur Jan 29
1:00
3
Dr. Dafny and Staff - Room MSB 2.006 and Labs
BLOCK 2
INSTRUCTOR
DATE
TIME
HRS.
SUBJECT
Week 5
Dr. Dougherty
Mon Feb 02
8:00
1
Somatosensory Systems
Dr. Dafny
Mon Feb 02
9:00
1
Spinal Cord
Dr. Dougherty
Mon Feb 02
10:00
1
Somatosensory Pathways
Dr. Dougherty
Mon Feb 02
10:00
1
Somatosensory Processes
Dr. Dafny
Mon Feb 02
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Dr. Dafny and Staff
Mon Feb 02
1:30
2
LABORATORY #4: Spinal Cord: External and Internal Anatomy and Introduction to Somatosensory Pathways
Dr. Mancias
Mon Feb 02
3:30
0.5
Clinical Post Laboratory Case
Dr. Mancias
Wed Feb 04
8:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Spinal Cord Disorders
Dr. Mancias
Fri Feb 06
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Somatosensory Disorders
Dr. Crow
Fri Feb 06
10:00
1
Chemical Senses: Olfaction and Gustation
Week 6
Dr. Crow
Mon Feb 09
8:00
1
Vestibular System: Structure and Function
Dr. Crow
Mon Feb 09
9:00
1
Vestibular Pathways and Reflexes
Dr. Dougherty
Mon Feb 09
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Dr. Dougherty and Staff 
Mon Feb 09
1:30
2
LABORATORY #5: Somatosensory, Viscerosensory, & Spinocerebellar Pathways
Dr. Mancias
Mon Feb 09
3:30
0.5
Clinical Post Laboratory Case
Dr. Crow
Wed Feb 11
8:00
1
Auditory System: Structure and Function
Dr. Crow
Wed Feb 11
9:00
1
Auditory Pathways
Dr. Moses
Fri Feb 13
8:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Otology Methods
Dr. Moses
Fri Feb 13
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Otology Clinical Cases
Week 7
Dr. Dafny
Mon Feb 16
8:00
1
Pain Principles
Dr. Dafny
Mon Feb 16
9:00
1
Pain Pathways and Different Pain Types
Dr. Crow
Mon Feb 16
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Dr. Crow and Staff 
Mon Feb 16
1:30
2
LABORATORY #6: Auditory, Vestibular, Gustatory and Olfactory Systems  
Dr. Moses
Mon Feb 16
3:30
0.5
Clinical Post Laboratory Case
Dr. Dafny
Wed Feb 18
8:00
1
Pain Mechanisms and Modulation
Dr. Normand / Dr. Hagberg
Wed Feb 18
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Principles of Anesthesia
Dr. Derman
Fri Feb 20
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Headaches
Week 8
No Neuroscience Classes Scheduled This Week (Feb 23-27)
Week 9
Block II Exam
Tue Mar 03
1:00
3
Dr. Dafny and staff - Room MSB 2.006 and Labs
Spring Break : Mon Mar 10 thru Fri Mar 15 2008 - NO CLASSES SCHEDULED
BLOCK 3
INSTRUCTOR
DATE
TIME
HRS.
SUBJECT
Week 10
Dr. Dragoi
Mon Mar 16
8:00
1
The Eye
Dr. Dragoi
Mon Mar 16
9:00
1
Visual Pathway
Dr. Dragoi
Mon Mar 16
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Dr. Dragoi and Staff
Mon Mar 16
1:30
2
LABORATORY #7: Visual System and Control System for Eye Movements
Dr. Mancias
Mon Mar 16
3:30
0.5
Clinical Post Laboratory Case
Dr. Knierim
Wed Mar 18
8:00
1
Motor Units and Muscle Receptors
Dr. Knierim
Wed Mar 18
9:00
1
Spinal Reflexes
Dr. Mancias
Fri Mar 20
8:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Lower Motor Neuron Disorders
Dr. Knierim
Fri Mar 20
9:00
1
Motor Cortex
Week 11
Dr. Mancias
Mon Mar 23
8:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Upper Motor Neuron Disorders
Dr. Knierim
Mon Mar 23
9:00
1
Basal Ganglia
Dr. Knierim
Mon Mar 23
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Dr. Dafny and Staff
Mon Mar 23
1:30
2
LABORATORY #8: Higher Motor Function
Dr. Mancias
Mon Mar 23
3:30
0.5
Clinical Post Laboratory Case
Dr. Furr-Stimming
Wed Mar 25
8:00
1
Clinical Correlate:  Extrapyramidal Disorders
Dr. Knierim
Wed Mar 25
9:00
1
Cerebellum
Dr. Mancias
Fri Mar 27
8:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Cerebellar Disorders
Dr. Knierim
Fri Mar 27
9:00
1
Disorders of the Motor System
Dr. Dragoi
Fri Mar 27
10:00
1
Ocular Motor System
Week 12
Dr. Dragoi
Mon Mar 30
8:00
1
Ocular Motor Control
Dr. Dragoi
Mon Mar 30
9:00
1
Visual Pathways, Eye Movement and Sensory Motor Integration
Dr. Knierim
Mon Mar 30
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Dr. Dafny and Staff
Mon Mar 30
1:30
2
LABORATORY #9: Descending Pathways to the Spinal Cord
Dr. Mancias
Mon Mar 30
3:30
0.5
Clinical Post Laboratory Case
Dr. Herskowitz
Wed Apr 01
8:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Neuroophthalmology Methods
Dr. Bean
Wed Apr 01
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Genetic and Neurological Diseases
Dr. Kellaway and Staff
Fri Apr 03
8:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Neuroophthalmology Cases
Dr. Baskin
Fri Apr 03
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Principles of Neurosurgical Intervention
Week 13
Dr. Berreto
Mon Apr 06
8:00
1
Brain Circulation
Dr. Berreto
Mon Apr 06
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Stroke
Block III Exam
Thur Apr 09
1:00
3
Dr. Dafny and staff - Room MSB 2.006 and Labs
BLOCK 4
INSTRUCTOR
DATE
TIME
HRS.
SUBJECT
Week 14
Dr. Dougherty
Mon Apr 13
8:00
1
Hypothalamus: Structural Organization
Dr. Dougherty
Mon Apr 13
9:00
1
Hypothalamic Control of Pituitary Hormones
Dr. Crow
Mon Apr 13
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Dr. Crow and Staff
Mon Apr 13
1:30
2
LABORATORY #10: Cranial Nerve Nuclei and Brain Stem Circulation
Dr. Mancias
Mon Apr 13
3:30
0.5
Clinical Post Laboratory Case
Dr. Dougherty
Tue Apr 14
8:00
1
Central Control of Autonomic Nervous System and Thermoregulation
Dr. Mancias
Tue Apr 14
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Cranial Nerves
Dr. Baskin
Fri Apr 17
8:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Hypothalamic Disorders
Dr. Dougherty
Fri Apr 17
9:00
1
Central Control of Feeding Behavior
Week 15
Dr. Wright
Mon Apr 20
8:00
1
Limbic System: Anatomy, Pathways and Function of the Hippocampus
Dr. Wright
Mon Apr 20
9:00
1
Limbic System: Anatomy, Pathways and Function of the Amygdala
Drs. Crow and Dougherty
Mon Apr 20
1:00
0.5
Pre-Laboratory Instruction
Drs. Crow, Dougherty and Staff
Mon Apr 20
1:30
2
LABORATORY #11: Limbic System and  Hypothalamus
Dr. Mancias
Mon Apr 20
3:30
0.5
Clinical Post Laboratory Case
Dr. Crow
Fri Apr 24
8:00
1
Learning and Memory
Dr. Crow
Fri Apr 24
9:00
1
Sleep and Arousal
Week 16
Dr. Castriotta
Mon Apr 27
8:00
1
Clinical Correlate:  Sleep Disorders
Dr. Mancias
Mon Apr 27
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate: Seizure Disorder (Epilepsy)
Dr. Wright
Wed Apr 29
8:00
1
Higher Cortical Function:  Language and Cognition
Dr. Wright
Wed Apr 29
9:00
1
Higher Cortical Function:  Executive Processing
Dr. Dash
Fri May 01
8:00
1
Blood Brain Barrier and Cerebral Metabolism
Dr. Dash
Fri May 01
9:00
1
Traumatic Brain Injury and Cell Death
Week 17
Dr. Waymire
Mon May 04
8:00
1
CNS Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
Dr. Dyer
Mon May 04
9:00
1
Clinical Correlate:  Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Disorders
Dr. Swann
Mon May 04
10:00
1
Clinical Correlate: From Neurobiology to Diseases of the Brain
Block IV Exam
Fri May 08
1:00
1
Dr. Dafny and Staff - Rooms MSB 1.006 and MSB 2.006
Week 18
FINAL EXAMINATION
Tue May 12
1:00
4
Dr. Dafny & Staff - Room MSB 2.006 and Labs

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