BIO 373 CELLULAR NEUROLOGY

This course is designed to provide a detailed working knowledge of how neurons work at the cellular level. We will consider neurons as electrochemically based information-processing cells, in isolation and as part of small simple neural circuits. The general principles of cellular neurophysiology common to all neurons will be addressed, with an emphasis put on non-human examples taken from all branches of animal (and even plant) life. Time permitting; we will delve into the neural systems underlying several model sensory systems of animals. This course will not touch on issues such as human cognition, sensation, emotional regulation, or the large-scale organization or physiology of brains (human or otherwise). A basic knowledge of cell biology (at the level of BIO 111 or BIO 264) is required, including the following topics: subcellular organelles, membrane structure and the fluid mosaic model, the central dogma, and protein structure. Prerequisite: BIO 111 or BIO 264 or permission of instructor.