Syllabus

Neurodevelopment and Pathology

Course: BIOL 4320/5320 Room : 101 Time: 10 am - 10:50

Semester: Fall Year: 2004

Course objective: The objective of this course is to integrate neural development (from conception to death) and neuropathologies into a foundation for understanding molecular and cellular levels of the nervous system; systems within the brain; and the relationship between the nervous system and behavior.

Prerequisite for undergraduates: A grade of ‘C’ or higher grade in BIOL 2490

Text: The required textbook will be Neuroscience – Exploring the Brain, Bear, Connors & Paradiso, 2nd Edition, 2001.

Instructor: Barbara Clancy Office: Lewis Science Center #120 Phone: 450-3210

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 11-12 am and 2-4 pm

email: bclancy@mail.uca.edu Web page: http://faculty.uca.edu/~bclancy/

Course description: This course takes a cellular and molecular approach to understanding the development (and therefore evolution) of the mammalian central nervous system, with an emphasis on neuropathologies. The initial portions of each session will cover basic cellular principles of nervous system organization and development, including the evolution of the brain. Following that, we will discuss neural disorders and diseases, with a concentration on understanding their origins at molecular and cellular levels. This course is intended for all biology majors, but may be of most interest to pre-professional students. A clinical introduction to neural development, disturbances and diseases will be offered, but this course will emphasize current knowledge at the level of cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and neural systems.

Disability Disclosure: The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this Act due to a disability, please contact the UCA Office of Disability Services, 450-3135 at the beginning of the semester.

Student Handbook/Policies: You must become familiar with the policies and information contained in the UCA Student Handbook. Please pay particular attention to the Academic Policies beginning on page 26 and the Sexual Harassment policy beginning on page 93. http://www.uca.edu/divisions/student/handbook/

All academic work is conducted under an honor code. Any student caught cheating or giving assistance on a test, exam or written report or assignment will be dropped from the course with a WF.  The chairman of the department will also be notified.

Tests/Grading: Evaluation of Student Performance: Grades will be based on:

• Three non-cumulative tests worth 100 points each. Dates are listed on class schedule.

• One cumulative final worth 200 points
• One 20-minute student presentations that will count for an additional 100 points. The presentation will be based on a minimum of three current published research articles in which the molecular and cellular basis of a specific neurobiological disorder or disease is discussed.
• For graduate students a term paper on the molecular, cellular, and system disruptions in a specific neurological disorder is also required

(Must be different from the topic chosen for the above presentation)

Make up policy: A valid excuse, presented prior to the test day, and/or a note from a physician will be required to arrange for make-up testing. Make-up exams may be oral.

Attendance Policy: Attendance is expected and absences will be monitored. Material not covered in the book will be presented during class time and will be included in the tests.

Schedule

Lecture/date Main topic Disorder

Lecture 1 Introduction

Lecture 2 Learning from the past institutions, ECT

Lecture 3 Neurons prion disease (mad cow disease)

Lecture 4 Glia spinal cord injuries

Lecture 5 Membranes and ion channels lethal injection; brain death

Lecture 6 Action Potentials anesthesias

Lecture 7 Synapses Botox; nerve gas

Lecture 8 Neurotransmitters depression; Prozac

Lecture 9 Cable Properties multiple sclerosis

Lecture 10 Transmitter Systems nicotine

Lecture 11 Channels barbiturates; alcohol

Lecture 12 G Proteins addiction

Lecture 13 Test 1

Lecture 14 Development of CNS X-linked disorders

Lecture 15 Organization of CNS Disorders of pathfinding

Lecture 16 Blood brain barrier brain tumors; meningitis

Lecture 17 Imaging the Nervous System White matter disorders, ventricular disorders

Lecture 18 Evolution animal models

Lecture 19 Genes Rett syndrome

Lecture 20 Development of the Cerebral Cortex double cortex

Lecture 21 Patterning of the CNS hydrocephalus; spinal bifida

Lecture 22 Stem cells Stem cell research

Lecture 23 Test 2

Lecture 24 The Retina tunnel vision; macular degeneration

Lecture 25 Striate Cortex blindsight

Lecture 26 Perception hallucinations; synesthesia

Lecture 27 Hearing otoacoustic emissions, cochlear implants

Lecture 28 Vestibular System motion sickness

Lecture 29 Touch autism

Lecture 30 Pain herpes & shingles; aspirin

Lecture 31 The Spinal Cord amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Lecture 32 Movement And The Brain Parkinson’s disease

Lecture 33 Hypothalamus disorders of sexuality

Lecture 34 Autonomic Nervous System anxiety disorders

Lecture 35 Test 3

Lecture 36 Eating and Feeding Behavior anorexia and bulimia

Lecture 37 Sex gender disorders

Lecture 38 The Limbic System schizophrenia; Tourette’s syndrome

Lecture 39 Anger and Aggression lobotomies and magnets

Lecture 40 Rhythms manic-depressive disorders

Lecture 41 Sleep sleep disorders, restless leg syndrome

Lecture 42 Language strokes and aphasias

Lecture 43 Attention attention deficient disorders

Lecture 44 Mood molecules & mood disorders

Lecture 45 Memory Alzheimer’s disease

Lecture 46 Learning and the Brain molecules of forgetting?

Final