Short
Summary (as per Undergraduate Guide) Back to Top
This course
provides an introduction to research on the neural basis of behavior.
Using simple biological systems as models for more complex behavior,
students will have hands-on experience in several types of experimental
methodologies and in the design and reporting of experiments. The
methodologies will range from observational and video techniques used to
study behavior to neurophysiological recording and stimulation. The
emphasis is on techniques used to study brain: behavior
relationships. Basic mammalian neuroanatomy will be reviewed. In
addition to gaining practical skills that will be necessary for further
study in behavioral neurobiology, students will acquire analytical and
reporting skills through involvement in a research project of their own
design. Prerequisites: PSY 91 or 135 (or BIO 154, NBI 154) and/or
background in biology. Permission of instructor required. Enrollment:
6. |
Extended Summary Back to Top
This course
provides an introduction to research on the neural basis of behavior.
Using simple biological systems as models for more complex behavior,
students will have hands-on experience in several types of experimental
methodologies and in the design and reporting of
experiments.
- Content. The course is designed for
undergraduate science majors who wish to obtain practical experience in
design and implementation of experiments at the interface of biology and
behavior. The focus of the course work is thus on techniques in both
behavioral and neurobiological methods, with emphasis on research that
relates brain and behavior. Students learn observational, videographic,
and electrophysiological techniques for monitoring behavior and apply
these is conjunction with physiological and neurological manipulations.
The course also involves neuroanatomical study, observation of
neurophysiological recording, and an introduction to human EEG and fMRI
technology. To provide coherence, the experimental projects and topics
of the course are organized around the context of ongoing research in
the instructor's laboratory - research on the neural basis of appetite
and feeding behavior. Thus many of the techniques used in the course are
those currently also utilized by the lab and some of the course
experiments are related to ongoing active research questions.
- Class Meetings. The course meets in the
lab for a full afternoon each week. In the first portion of the
semester, weekly readings are required as preparation for each class. In
addition, some analysis of data and preparation for class presentations
is frequently required before each class meeting. For a typical class,
students will provide a short summary and report of the previous week's
experiments.
- Projects. In the
second half of the semester, in addition to the regular class meetings,
students design and carry out their own research project. These projects
are derived from a combination of the methods and techniques that
students have learned, the experimental issues that have arisen during
the first part of the semester, and issues or questions of the students
own interest. A project proposal is required before the project is
begun (11/1), a draft of a report and an oral presentation are made in
the last week of classes (12/7), and a final version of the Report is
turned in at Exam time (12/17).
- Final Report. The
final Report is a journal-style research report that describes the
experimental question or issue and places it in the context of other
research, then describes the methods and results of the experiment, and
is accompanied by a discussion of the results and their significance or
implications. These reports usually involve a literature review and
graphical presentation of data as well as a statistical analysis, and
will include figures and a bibliography.
- Other Responsibilities. For this course,
students will be responsible for regular care and maintenance of animals
used in the course, and will also be responsible for the laboratory
organization and housekeeping that is involved with managing their own
experiments. Animal care may require an occasional weekend visit to the
lab.
- Evaluation. Grading
for the course is based on class presentations and discussion, a
neuroanatomy quiz, project proposal, project presentation, Final Report
(50%).
- Preparation. This
course is a logical follow-up to "Biological Basis of Behavior" offered
by Experimental Psychology (PSY 91) and/or "Introduction to
Neurobiology" offered by Zoology ([BIO 154, NBI 154, PSY 135]; all are
courses in the Undergraduate Neurosciences Program). A basic
understanding of the operation of spreadsheet software will be assumed.
Understanding elementary electronics is helpful. Prerequisites: PSY 91
or 135 (or BIO 154, NBI 154) and/or background in biology. Permission of
instructor required. Enrollment: 6.
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- The Course & Some First Principles
(8/31)
1.1. Course Plan
1.2. Interface of Behavior & Brain - brain/behavior concepts
and measurement overview
1.3.
Ingestive Behavior, Taste & Olfaction -
development
1.4. Ethical Issues:
Human Research
1.5. Ethical Issues: Use
of Animals in Research
-ethics &
justification (&simulation)
-species choice &
number
-developing
rodents
1.6. Practical aspects of
animal care & housing, and housekeeping for this course
1.7. Intro to Next Weeks Lab
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Animals in Research Papers, Sherrington
chapter
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- Behavioral Techniques and Neurobiology
(9/7)
[Review of Last Week's Animals in
Research Topic]
2.1. Statictics and
Measurement
2.2. EXPERIMENT:
Behavioral Measurement of Nerve Conduction Speed
-concepts (getting at brain biology
with behavior)
-setting up an experiment (design & methods)
-use of
statistics
-variations, implications
READINGS FOR
NEXT WEEK: Dissection Handouts & www work
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- General Mammalian Neuroanatomy: Sheep Brain
(9/14)
[Review of Last Week's
Experiment]
3.1. Intro to the
Vertebrate Brain Plan
3.2. Sheep
Brain Dissection
3.3. Human Brain
Anatomy: Structural MRI
-atlas review
-software for study
3.4. Exploration of the instructors
brain
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Dev.
of Ingestion Paper, Chemical Senses review
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- Taste & Olfaction (9/21)
==QUIZ on Mammalian Neuroanatomy==
4.1. Overview of taste & olfactory
system
4.2. EXPERIMENT: Electrical
stimulation of taste
4.3.
EXPERIMENT: Unilateral Olfactory receptor adaptation
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Ingestive Behavior Methods
paper
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- Videographic, Observational, & Intake
Analysis of Ingestive Behavior (9/28)
[Review of Last Week's Experiments]
5.1. EXPERIMENT: Effects of nutrient state of behavior -
comparison of intake to other behavioral measures
5.2. EXPERIMENT: Oral infusions and changes in
behavioral responsiveness - mouthing studied over
time
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK:
Feeding & drinking neurobiology papers
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- Physiological Induction of Ingestive
Motivation (10/5)
[Review of Last Week's
Experiment]
6.1. Overview of
ingestive system neurobiology
6.2.
EXPERIMENT: Comparing cellular & extracellular
dehydration
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK:
Pharmacology paper
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- Behavior Induced with Central Injections
(10/19)
[Review of Last Week's
Experiment]
7.1. Overview of thirst
neuropharmacology
7.2. EXPERIMENT:
Central injection of pharmacological dipsogen
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Habituation & EMG paper;
oscilloscope techniques
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- Electrophysiological Monitoring of Human EMG
(10/26)
[Review of Last Week's
Experiment]
8.1. Intro to
physiological amplifiers, oscilloscopes, and interfaces to
computers
8.2. EXPERIMENT:
Habituation of oromotor activity
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Appetite paper
FOR NEXT WEEK>>> Project proposals due next
Monday 11/1
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- Measuring Human Appetitive Orienting
(11/2)
[Review of Last Week's
Experiment]
9.1. Discussion of
Project Proposals **
9.2. EXPERIMENT:
Tracking human visual attention
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: EEG paper
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- Brain Activity in Populations of Neurons
(Human EEG) (11/9)
[Review of Last Week's
Experiment]
10.1. EXPERIMENT:
Demonstration of human EEG responses
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- Simulation of brain-like systems (11/16)
[Review of Last Week's Experiment]
11.1. Introduction to Simulation from of neurons and
systems
11.2. EXPERIMENT: Simulating
system level behavioral biology
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- Human fMRI Demonstration and Project Work
(11/23)
[Review of Last Week's
Experiment]
10.1. EXPERIMENT:
Demonstration of fMRI
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- == Project Work == (11/30)
- == Presentations and Project Report
Drafts == (12/7; returned by the 10th)
--------- Final Version of Project Report Due
12/17/99 ---------
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This course outline is subject to
change. |