Course Description
The nervous system stressing cellular physiology of the nervous system and how changes in cellular physiology impact behavior.
Athena Title
NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Know the energy substrates utilized by the central nervous system. How does energy utilization change as substrate availability changes? 2. Know the physiologic and behavioral responses to a decrease in glucose availability or O2 availability. How does the nervous and neuroendocrine system interface with other organ systems to preserve neural function? 3. Know the functions of glial cells in the nervous system. Know the role of glial cells in development and regeneration in the nervous system. 4. Describe transport/movement of material into and out of cells as well as into and out of the brain. Know sites of specific transporters. 5. Describe the blood-brain barrier, blood-csf barrier and brain-csf barrier in detail. 6. Know the importance of Na+, K+, Ca++ and Cl- to membrane potential. What information does the Nernst equation and the Goldman-Katz equation provide that points to the direction these ions might flow? 7. What effect does increasing extracellular K+ have on membrane potential? What effect does decreasing extracellular K+ have on membrane potential? Does Na+ have similar effects and why? 8. What effect does increasing extracellular Ca++ have on membrane potential? What effect does decreasing extracellular Ca++ have on membrane potential? 9. Understand that passive membrane potential changes depolarize or hyperpolarize and summate. Where would most channels for passive membrane potentials be located on the neuron? 10. What happens at threshold with regards to the action potential? Where are most voltage-gated Na+ channels located? What is the significance to the cell? 11. What are refractory periods and what is their significance to conduction of the action potential? 12. Know effects of increased axon diameter and myelination on speed of conduction along the axon. Understand the basic biophysics of this phenomenon. 13. What types of synapses are there in the nervous system? 14. What is the significance of synaptic delay and why does it occur? 15. Know the mechanisms that result in channels opening after binding of a ligand to its receptor. Direct coupling and second messenger coupling are important. What advantages/disadvantages does each have to cell signaling and cell function? 16. Know the role of Ca++ in the synaptic bouton relative to neurotransmitter release. How is Ca++ involved in the SNARE Hypothesis? 17. What effect does increasing/decreasing Na+ permeability have on membrane potential? Increasing/decreasing K+ permeability? Increasing/decreasing Ca++permeability? Increasing/decreasing Cl- permeability? 18. Know the types of neurotransmitters. How can levels of neurotransmitters be manipulated experimentally? 19. What is neurotransmitter colocalization? How does this affect release? 20. Know the mechanisms to terminate a neurotransmitter signal. What is the significance of this to experimental or clinical applications? 21. Know how sensory receptors are activated. What does increased firing rate signify? What is adaptation? 22. What central mechanisms are employed to focus sensory information? To amplify sensory information? 23. Know that nociception (pain) is a response to tissue damage. Understand the basis for the following: a. Fast vs slow b. Referred pain/phantom sensation c. Neurotransmitters important to nociception and analgesia 24. Know the muscle spindle and golgi tendon organ. How are these critical to muscle contraction? 25. Understand the following relative to sleep: a. Slow wave vs REM b. Ascending reticular activating system. c. Role of serotonin, hypocretin, and norepinephrine (in general). d. Change in REM with age, REM in carnivore vs herbivore. e. Narcolepsy, REM movement disorders, sleep apnea. f. Coma vs sleep. 26. Understand the following relative to autonomic nervous system: a. Enteric, sympathetic and parasympathetic. b. Neurotransmitters in the sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionics and postganglionics. c. Effects of sympathetic activation/inactivation on end organs. d. Effects of parasympathetic activation/inactivation on end organs. e. Autonomic tone f. Denervation sensitivity g. Autonomic reflexes. i. Baroreflex ii. Micturition reflex iii. Defecation reflex 28. Limbic system: Know signals monitored in following behaviors. a. feeding and body weight regulation b. drinking c. thermoregulation d. rhythmic behavior e. sex behavior 29. Have general concept of how cerebellum works and its role in motor function and learning. 30. Have general concept of how basal ganglia work and their role in motor function. 31. Understand how a system of inhibitory and excitatory populations of neurons ultimately result in excitation or inhibition of a group of cells. How does this apply to cerebral cortex function? 32. Have a general concept of chemical control of regeneration and neurite outgrowth in the nervous system. What factors inhibit neurite outgrowth in the CNS? 33. Understand how transplants and growth factors may contribute to recovery of CNS diseases. What are some of the limitations of these therapies?
Topical Outline
Week 1 (Edwards) Membrane Functions: Passive Electrical Potentials Week 2 (Edwards) Membrane Functions: Action Potential Week 3 (Edwards) Cerebrospinal Fluid Blood-Brain Barrier Week 4 (Coffield) Synaptic Function: Neurotransmitter Release Week 5 (Coffield) Synaptic Function: Neurotransmitter Release Exam I Week 6 (Edwards) Synaptic Function: Receptor Function Week 7 (Edwards) Receptor Function (Molecular Analysis of Neural Function) Week 8 (Edwards) Plasticity/Regeneration Week 9 (Edwards) Integrative Functions (Enteric Nervous System) Week 10 (Edwards) Integrative Function (Spinal Cord) Exam II Week 11 (Edwards) Integrative Function (Brainstem) Week 12 (Edwards) Integrative Function (Brainstem) Week 13 (Edwards) Integrative Function (Limbic System) Week 14 (Edwards) Integrative Function (Limbic System) Week 15 (Edwards) Integrative Function (Cortex) Finals Week Exam III
Syllabus
Public CV