536-303 The Brain: Neurophysiology of Behaviour

Physiology 536-201, 536-211 and 536-202,

BBiomedSc students: 521-213 and 536-250.

Students who do not have a background in physiology, but who have strong background in psychology or zoology, may seek exemption by writing to the Head of Physiology.

The course initially details the theoretical and functional mechanisms involved in the formation and recall of memory. It includes the theoretical basis of memory, Hebbian synapses, the use of brain imaging methods, types of memory and their relationships to cognition, the role of membrane events in memory and other behaviours, arousal and attention, role of the thalamus, general sensory pathways and higher processing, e.g. language. Students will be expected to complete a short library-based project, building on the lecture material, to extend their understanding to other forms of behaviour. Each project will be distinct and students will work in small groups to answer one component of the assigned problem. Potential project topics include neurophysiology of music, neurophysiology of exercise, neurophysiology of addiction, neurophysiology of appetite, colour vision, sex hormones in the brain, genetics of neurological diseases.

A 3000-word project report, and four 200-word journal article summaries submitted throughout the semester.