536-303 The Brain: Neurophysiology of Behaviour

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Physiology 536-201, 536-211 and 536-202. Students who do not have a background in Physiology, but who have taken second year Psychology or Zoology, may seek exemption from the Head of Physiology.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The subject will be developed around the neurophysiology of memory and learning. This will include the following: membrane ion channels and excitability of neurones, mechanisms of synaptic transmission and plasticity, structural relationships between neurones, functional analysis of neuronal circuits, neuroanatomy of memory (cerebellum, cerebellum and basal ganglia) and the theoretical analyses of memory systems and their relationship to known physiology. The use of brain imaging systems, electrophysiological tools and genetic manipulations for the study of behaviour will also be covered. Students will undertake a group project dealing with various aspects of the nervous system function including: translation of sensory stimuli into perception and learning, use of isolated systems for the analysis of complex behaviours, the role and mechanisms of selective attention, neural processes underlying motivation and appetite, and the mechanisms of recovery from neural injury. Emphasis will be placed on use of the scientific literature and on the use of models systems for the analysis of neuronal functions.

Assessment

A 5000 word assignment, 2 oral presentations and seminar contributions.