Mind the Gap serves as an introduction into the world of neuroscience and science communication through an exploration of creative works of fiction, sci-fi, non-fiction, and scientific reports. The class will explore works from Antonio Damasio, Sam Kean, Daniel Keyes, Oliver Sacks, and more as well as shorter scientific reports and research articles. Regardless of background, students in this class will learn to compare the different writing styles necessary for scientific communication with an understanding of how different audiences drive how we shift from scientific to creative and persuasive writing. Students will learn general concepts in Neuroscience by discussing both creative literature and associated scientific papers. Through practice, students will gain insights into proper citation management and concise scientific writing skills. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 1024)

Terms offered: 2024 Fall Semester

This course is an introductory exploration of the nervous system as it relates to bodily functions. It explores neurons as the basic building blocks of brain and behavior. Through lectures and classroom experiments, students would learn how electrochemical nerve signals control body movement, cardiovascular function, reflexes, and brain activity. Further, students explore how the nervous system can interact with machine interfaces, including prosthetics. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 1099)

Terms offered: 2021 Fall Semester; 2022 Fall Semester; 2023 Fall Semester; 2024 Fall Semester

An introductory survey of biological influences on behavior. The primary emphasis is on the neurobiological regulation of behavior in humans and other vertebrate animals, focusing on genetic, developmental, hormonal, and neuronal mechanisms. Additionally, the evolution of these regulatory systems is considered. This course explores the structural and functional properties of the central nervous system to understand how behavior occurs—and how it is disrupted—at the molecular, cellular, and systems level. Topics discussed may include cellular processes/communication, sensation/perception, cognition, sleep, eating, sex, and aggression. Emphasis will be placed on how biological mechanisms contribute to psychological [dys]function. This course originates in Psychology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: PSYC 2050)

Terms offered: 2022 Spring Semester; 2023 Spring Semester; 2024 Spring Semester; 2025 Spring Semester

An introduction to the neuroscientific study of cognition. Topics surveyed in the course include the neural bases of perception, attention, memory, language, executive function, and decision making. In covering these topics, the course will draw on evidence from brain imaging (fMRI, EEG, MEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation, electrophysiology, and neuropsychology. Also considers how knowledge about the brain constrains our understanding of the mind. This course originates in Psychology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: PSYC 2060)

Terms offered: 2022 Fall Semester; 2023 Fall Semester; 2025 Fall Semester

A comparative and evolutionary approach to animal behavioral neuroscience. The primary focus is on the evolution of the brain and behavior in vertebrate systems, including humans, but invertebrates are also discussed. Topics include the evolution and diversity of sensory systems, reproductive behaviors, parental care, learning and memory, social behaviors, intelligence, and cognition. This course originates in Psychology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: PSYC 2099)

Terms offered: 2021 Fall Semester

Examines fundamental concepts in neurobiology from the molecular to the systems level. Topics include neuronal communication, gene regulation, morphology, neuronal development, axon guidance, mechanisms of neuronal plasticity, sensory systems, and the molecular basis of behavior and disease. Weekly lab sessions introduce a wide range of methods used to examine neurons and neuronal systems. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 2135)

Terms offered: 2021 Fall Semester; 2022 Fall Semester; 2023 Fall Semester; 2024 Fall Semester; 2025 Fall Semester

All cells signal through a variety of mechanisms. Cells take advantage of these signaling pathways to communicate intrinsically, through their local environment, and across entire systems throughout the body. This course will focus on broad types of signaling pathways that have been observed and defined across many fields of biology and introduce students to concepts such as lipid signaling, the immune synapse, and signaling pathways in cancer and other pathologies. Topics of exploration include bioactive lipid signaling, autocrine, cell-cell signaling, and paracrine signaling. We will expand into systemic endocrine signaling and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and discuss more complicated signaling systems such as what happens during oncogenesis and the communication between the gut microbiome and the brain. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Biochemistry; Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 2504, BIOC 2504)

Terms offered: 2025 Spring Semester

This course will discuss drug-induced changes in the functioning of the nervous system. The specific focus will be to provide a description of the cellular and molecular actions of drugs (natural or artificial) on the communication between neurons (known as synaptic transmission) and on the production of behaviors such as walking, breathing, heart function, and learning/memory, among others. This course will also refer to specific diseases of the nervous system and their treatment, in addition to giving an overview of the techniques used for the study of neuropharmacology. The lab portion of this course would involve the dissection and handling of mouse tissue. If you are not comfortable with the idea of dissecting mice you should not take this course. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 2510)

Terms offered: 2022 Spring Semester; 2023 Spring Semester; 2024 Spring Semester; 2025 Spring Semester

A comparative study of the function of the nervous system in invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Topics include the mechanism that underlie both action potentials and patterns of spontaneous activity in individual nerve cells, interactions between neurons, and the organization of neurons into larger functional units. Lectures and four hours of laboratory work per week. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 2553)

Terms offered: 2021 Fall Semester; 2022 Fall Semester; 2023 Fall Semester; 2024 Fall Semester; 2025 Fall Semester

Examination of the molecular control of neuronal structure and function. After understanding classic cloning techniques and experiments, students will learn more modern variations of techniques related to nucleic acid sequencing, protein visualization, and genetic manipulation. Additional topics such as intracellular signaling, neurotrophins and cell death, growth cone guidance, and the molecular basis of learning and memory are covered. The final portion of the course revolves around pathological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and spinal cord injuries, culminating in an independent investigation of the molecular basis of a neurological disorder of each student’s choosing. Students will gain experience reading and interpreting primary research articles, working collaboratively in small groups, and communicating scientifically. Weekly laboratory sessions are devoted to exploring the molecular basis of compensatory plasticity in the cricket auditory system. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 2566)

Terms offered: 2022 Spring Semester; 2023 Spring Semester; 2024 Spring Semester; 2025 Spring Semester

A laboratory course that exposes students to modern techniques in neuroscience that can be applied to the study of affective behavior, broadly. Underlying concepts associated with various behavioral, molecular, neuroanatomical, pharmacological, and translational methods will be discussed in a lecture format. Students will apply these concepts and techniques in discussions and laboratory preparations demonstrating how affective processes are organized within the central nervous system of vertebrates. This course will explore using experimental examples how the brain influences behavior, thereby illuminating our understanding of human neuropsychological functioning. This course originates in Psychology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: PSYC 2750)

Terms offered: 2021 Fall Semester; 2022 Fall Semester; 2023 Fall Semester; 2024 Fall Semester; 2025 Fall Semester

A laboratory course that exposes students to multiple techniques in cognitive neuroscience that can be applied to the study of human cognition. The course will introduce human neuroimaging methods including electroencephlography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Students will then use these methods to study aspects of human cognition including perception, attention, memory, language, problem solving, reasoning, and decision-making. This course originates in Psychology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: PSYC 2775)

Terms offered: 2022 Spring Semester; 2023 Spring Semester; 2024 Spring Semester; 2025 Spring Semester

An advanced discussion of concepts in behavioral neuroendocrinology. Topics include descriptions of the major classes of hormones, their roles in the regulation of development and adult behavioral expression, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for their behavioral effects. Hormonal influences on reproductive, aggressive, and parental behaviors, as well as on cognitive processes are considered. This course originates in Psychology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: PSYC 3050)

Terms offered: 2022 Spring Semester; 2024 Spring Semester; 2025 Spring Semester

This seminar explores the role of sex as a biological variable on neural and behavioral outcomes, focusing on translational animal models of neuropsychopathology. Students engage with empirical research, historical perspectives, and debates on how sex-difference research in neuroscience is funded, conducted, and interpreted. Through analysis of primary literature, discussions, and presentations, students explore how sex differences—or their absence—shape our understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders and influence research methods. The course covers several animal models, emphasizing how their neural and behavioral findings offer translational insights into human disease. By examining sex-specific neural and behavioral findings in pathological model systems, students gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between sex and typical or atypical outcomes. This course fosters critical thinking about the implications of studying sex differences in behavioral neuroscience and their impact on scientific research and public health. This course originates in Psychology and is crosslisted in Neuroscience. (Same as: PSYC 3054)

Terms offered: 2025 Spring Semester

An advanced discussion of recent empirical and theoretical approaches to understanding the cognitive neuroscience of memory. Readings and discussions address empirical studies using neuroimaging methods. Topics include hippocampal and cortical contributions to memory encoding and retrieval and the effect of genetic variability, drugs, emotions, and sleep on memory. This course originates in Psychology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: PSYC 3055)

Terms offered: 2023 Fall Semester

In this course you will learn about the main animal models used in the study of how the nervous system controls motor behavior as animals, including humans, interact with the environment. The course will cover the principal motor systems (including those for walking, flying, swimming, breathing, and others), focusing in particular on bridging the gap between molecular/cellular neuroscience and higher-level perception and behavior. Topics to be covered include neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and functions of the most studied animal behaviors, and the groups of interconnected neurons (termed neural circuits) that control them. Students will read, interpret, analyze, and discuss seminal (classical) and recent scientific papers from influential motor systems neurobiology laboratories. The course will also discuss the relevance of these neuronal motor systems to human diseases. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 3311)

Terms offered: 2021 Fall Semester; 2022 Fall Semester; 2023 Fall Semester; 2024 Fall Semester; 2025 Fall Semester

An advanced seminar focusing on one or more aspects of neuroscience, such as neuronal regeneration and development, modulation of neuronal activity, or the neural basis of behavior. Students read and discuss original papers from the literature. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 3325)

Terms offered: 2022 Spring Semester; 2023 Spring Semester; 2023 Fall Semester; 2024 Spring Semester; 2024 Fall Semester; 2025 Spring Semester

The consequences of neuronal damage in humans, especially in the brain and spinal cord, are frequently devastating and permanent. Invertebrates, on the other hand, are often capable of complete functional regeneration. Examines the varied responses to neuronal injury in a range of species. Topics include neuronal regeneration in planaria, insects, amphibians, and mammals. Students read and discuss original papers from the literature in an attempt to understand the basis of the radically different regenerative responses mounted by a variety of neuronal systems. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 3329)

Terms offered: 2021 Fall Semester

A seminar-style class exploring primary scientific literature focused on the synapse as the fundamental signaling unit of the brain. Focuses on the cell biology, physiology, plasticity, and signal integration of inter-neuronal communication. Topics will also include recent methodological advances in the study of synaptic function. Following short introductory lectures, students will present selected papers and lead discussions. This course originates in Biology and is crosslisted with: Neuroscience. (Same as: BIOL 3388)