++ MD/PhD ++ BCMB ++ CMM ++ BME ++ Other Graduate Programs
in the School of Medicine ++ Undergraduate Neuroscience Program
Curriculum
Students enter the Program from different backgrounds and the laboratories in which they elect to work cover different disciplines; therefore the Program is tailored to fit the needs of individual students and courses are designed so that students have ample time to become involved in laboratory rotations. |
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Schedule of Courses 2009 - 2010 (in process of being updated)
School of Medicine Academic Calendar 2009 - 2010
Core Courses
The core curriculum is undertaken during the first year of graduate study. Starting in the 2002-2003 academic year, it will consist of a year long course called Neuroscience and Cognition I and II, which will provide not just a comprehensive, but an integrated introduction to neural function.
Neuroscience and Cognition I
ME:440.811
1st and 2nd quarters
Course Director: Dr. Seth Blackshaw
This is the first half of a 4-quarter course on the cellular and molecular basis of neural function and the neural basis of perception, cognition, and behavior. Topics covered in this half include (1) development and structure of the nervous system, (2) cellular neurophysiology, (3) neural signaling and coding, and (4) audition, vocalization, and language. Lectures will be presented by faculty in the Neuroscience, Neurology, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, and Cognitive Science departments. The course will also include discussion sections based on current literature and several neurotechniques sessions designed to familiarize students with current experimental approaches in cellular, systems, and molecular neuroscience. This course is required of all students in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. Students outside the program may take this course independent of Neuroscience and Cognition II. Prerequisites: Basic Cell and Molecular biology (may be taken concurrently) or permission from Course Directors. Most Recent Syllabus
Neuroscience and Cognition II
ME:440.812
3rd and 4th quarters.
Course Directors: Dr. Amy Bastian
This is the second half of a 4-quarter course on the cellular and molecular basis of neural function and the neural basis of perception, cognition, and behavior. Topics covered in this half include (1) perception of objects, space, and self, (2) movement and balance, (3) learning and memory, (4) neurological and psychiatric disorders, and (5) global function in the nervous system. Lectures will be presented by faculty in the Neuroscience, Neurology, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, and Cognitive Science Departments. The course will also have a laboratory component. This course is required of all students in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. Students outside the program may take this course independent of Neuroscience and Cognition I with permission from Course Directors. Prerequisites: Basic Cell and Molecular biology (may be taken concurrently) or permission from Course Directors. Most Recent Syllabus
ME:440.712
All Year
Course Directors: Marsh-Armstrong and Worley
Science as a profession has undergone radical changes in the last decade. Central issues include mentoring, misconduct in science, preparedness of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows for careers in science, and the career choices currently available. To this end, this course will focus on mentoring and issues of ethics and scientific misconduct. Preparedness for a career in science issues will be discussed in the context of funding currently available to scientists and preparation strategies involved in grant writing. In addition, methods of oral presentation and slide preparation will be discussed.
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Elective Courses
In addition to the core courses, each student selects advanced electives offered by members of the Neuroscience Training Program or other departments at the Medical School. Students in the Neuroscience Training Program are required to complete six elective courses by the end of their second year. These may be a combination of small seminar-style elective courses in neuroscience, listed below, and advanced courses in other fields relevant to their research interests, such as molecular biology, genetics, immunology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, biostatistics, pharmacology, physiology, anatomy and computer science.
Neuropharmacology
( Baraban and Snyder)
First quarter, every other year
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Classical studies elucidating the mechanisms of action of psychoactive substances led to seminal discoveries about how the brain works. Conversely, our ability to exploit modern advances in molecular neurobiology to treat neurological and psychiatric diseases will depend on successful development of new drugs based on these findings. |
The instructors present an overview of the mechanisms of action of several, widely used drug classes and the broad range of methods used to elucidate their effects on the brain. Furthermore, students present papers describing recent advances in this dynamic field of research. Most Recent Syllabus
Trends in the Neurobiology of Aging
( Mattson)
First quarter, every other year.
As the average lifespan of humans increases, age-related dysfunction of the nervous system, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, are becoming major concerns in our society. Recent advances in understanding the molecular and cellular underpinnings of nervous system aging and neurodegenerative disorders will be the focus of this course. Emerging findings of genetic and environmental factors that either promote successful brain aging or predispose to age-related neurological disorders, and elucidation of their underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms, will be emphasized. The course will consist of several introductory lectures and subsequent sessions in which hot topics in the field are discussed. Most Recent Course Announcement
Visual System
(Hendry)
First and Second Quarter, every year.
From outer segments of photoreceptors to the Fusiform Face Area of the cerebral cortex we have come to understand how the visual system works at each of many fundamental levels. This course examines the basis for perception of visible objects at each of these levels. We will use the secondary literature (scientific reviews) to accent the hard-won truths about visual system functional organization and to highlight ongoing controversies. Students will be lead through carefully chosen reviews in a series of lectures and written summaries prepared by faculty. Three exams and a final exam will test students not on their memorization of minutiae but on their understanding of fundamental principles.
| Physiology of Sensory Transduction ( Yau and Fuchs) Second quarter, every other year A seminar and reading course that covers current research in sensory transduction from a physiological perspective. Visual, chemical and auditory transductions will be covered. Most Recent Course Announcement |
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Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Death: Necrosis to Apoptosis
( V. Dawson and T. Dawson)
Second quarter, every other year
This is a state-of-the-art course on molecular mechanisms of cell death. A multi-disciplinary approach spanning multiple organ systems will be utilized to illustrate key features of cell death programs. The course will highlight research ongoing at Johns Hopkins University as well as additional current advances in the molecular biology of cell death. Each week will be composed of a lecture reviewing critical features of a cell death pathway followed by critical review of key papers published in the last year or so. Topics will include anti-apoptotic proteins, intracellular proteases, p53, C-Myc, free radicals, Fas, TNF-a death programs and developmental and gonadal programmed cell death. Most Recent Course Announcement
Stem cells: Unit of Development and Unit of Regeneration
(G.Ming and H.Song).
Third quarter, every other year
This is a seminar and reading course devoted to the discussion of different type of stem cells. The course is designed to give a broad view of mammalian stem cells. The topics will range from pluripotent stem cells (embryonic stem cells and embryonic germ cells) to multipotent somatic stem cells (in brain, heart, blood, etc.) during development as well as in adult. We will cover the basic biology of these stem cells as well as bioengineering and application of these stem cells to potential treatments of human diseases. This elective course is limited to 20 (25) students. Most Recent Course Announcement
Cellular Substrates of Learning and Memory
( Linden)
Third quarter, every other year
The search for the engram has proved to be one of the most fascinating and frustrating problems in contemporary biology. In this course we shall attempt to gain an understanding of the current state of the struggle through reading and discussion of original source materials from the literature. We shall examine attempts to find biochemical, electrophysiological and morphological changes in neural tissue during and following learning tasks, and attempts to interfere with or enhance learning and memory through genetic, electrophysiologic and pharmacologic manipulation. In addition, electrophysiological model systems of information storage such as long-term potentiation and long-term depression will be considered. Examples shall be taken from both the vertebrate and invertebrate literature. Prior coursework in electrophysiology is strongly recommended (Neuroscience and Cognition I is sufficient). Most Recent Syllabus
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Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience
(Niebur)
Taught all year
Topics of theoretical neuroscience and computational neuroscience will
be discussed based on the original literature. Students are expected
to actively participate in the discussion and also to present selected
material to the class. Open to graduate students and postdocs and advanced undergraduates. Instructor's permission required.
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Photoreceptors in Health
(D. Zack) Co-Sponsered by Wilmer Eye Institute and Dept. of Neuroscience.
Third Quarter, every other year
The course will present a multidisciplinary approach to the biology and pathology of photoreceptor cells. The first block of lectures will discuss the development, organization, cell biology and biochemistry of photoreceptor cells, and the metabolic bases of their susceptibility to injury; emphasis will be on vertebrate photoreceptors, but contributions from studies with invertebrates will also be included. The next block will be devoted to the photoreceptor microenvironment, including retinal pigment epithelial and Muller cells, the interphotoreceptor matrix, trophic factors and retinoids, light, oxygen and neuromodulators. The third block will be devoted to photoreceptor physiology, including the visual cycle, phototransduction, dark adaptation, spectral sensitivity and color mixture, electroretinography, and rod and cone response dynamics. The next section, dealing with pathology of photoreceptors and related outer retinal structures, will cover some hereditary diseases of known genetic origin, such as retinitis pigmentosa, gyrate atrophy, and abnormalities of color vision, as well as hereditary photoreceptor dystrophies of unknown origin. One lecture will be devoted to strategies for the search for genetic defects responsible for these diseases. After a discussion of macular degeneration and retinal detachment, the last block of lectures will review recent progress in the search for preventive and therapeutic approaches for these diseases, including the development of animal models, gene therapy, transplantation techniques, possible uses of stem cell therapy, and growth factor administration.
Current Issues in Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience
(Knierim)
Fourth Quarter, every year
The brain is an information processing system without parallel. It excels at recognizing objects and substances, reconstructing space, analyzing sound environments, controlling complex behaviors, and storing a lifetime's worth of events and experiences. The neural mechanisms underlying these abilities are studied by a large community of systems and cognitive neuroscientists. This research has generated a rapidly evolving field of high-profile discoveries and lively debates between competing laboratories. This course aims to convey a clear sense of this field by focusing on current experimental and conceptual controversies regarding organization and function in the vertebrate nervous system. Each week will focus on a different topic represented by two or more recent papers (selected by an instructor) reflecting opposing points of view. Students will present the papers informally and direct a debate over the relative merits of the conflicting viewpoints. The quarter-long course will be divided into 2-3 week sections covering different sensory, motor, or cognitive systems, in addition to computational neuroscience. There will be one 2-hour debate each week, and participation in the 1-hour Systems Journal Club (Readings in Systems Neuroscience, ME440.810) will also be required. Most Recent Course Announcement
Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission
(Bergles, Glowatzki and Worley)
Fourth quarter, every other year
A seminar and reading course devoted to the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic transmission and the regulation of synaptic plasticity. The structure and function of neurotransmitter receptors, ion channels and synaptic vesicle proteins will be discussed. In addition, the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of synaptic transmission such as the trans-synaptic regulation of the function and expression of synaptic proteins will be examined. Course Announcement
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Fourth quarter, every other year This course will consist of lectures and discussions concerning the application of molecular techniques in the study of neurologic and psychiatric illnesses. Specific diseases shall serve as examples for analysis of abnormal genes, protein products and neurotoxicity. |
Topics in Somatosensory Research
( Hsiao)
Fourth quarter, every year
A seminar and reading course devoted to current research into information processing in the nervous system. Neural coding, the neural representation of images and information, and the neural mechanisms of pattern recognition, association, perception, memory and attention will be discussed. The investigation of information processing depends equally on psychophysical, neurophysiological and computational approaches; the course will draw from the literature in each of these areas. Most Recent Course Announcement
The Cellular and Molecular Basis of Neural Development.
(Ginty, Kolodkin and Sockanathan)
Fourth quarter, every year
A seminar and reading course devoted to the discussion of the cellular and molecular processes underlying neuronal development. Topics to be covered include neural induction, cell differentiation, neurotrophic factors and their mechanism of action, mechanisms of axonal growth and guidance, target recognition and synapse formation, and the basis of synaptic specificity. Students must have completed Neuroscience Cognition I and II.
The Retinal Ganglion Cell
Fourth Quarter, every other year
The course will focus on one cell type, the retinal ganglion cell (RGC). From the perspective of cell biology, developmental biology, physiology and pathobiology, RGCs share many features with other projection neurons, including a susceptibility to disease. Thus, this course will be directed not only at students who study the retina, but also to neurobiology students who want to take an in depth and wholistic look at all aspects of neurobiology pertaining to one particular neuron. The course will take a comprehensive approach to understanding from a cellular and molecular perspective all aspects about the life and death of RGCs. First, the course will cover the structure and function of RGCs: anatomy, morphology, and physiology or RGCs, focusing on the diversity of RGC subtypes and their interaction with various glial cells. Second, the course will cover the development of RGCs: how they are specified, how they differentiate, how they sprout processes, how their axons reach central targets, and RGC dependence on trophic support for survival. The third part of the course will focus of diseases affecting retinal ganglion cells, focusing principally on glaucoma, but also covering other optic neuropathies as well as the response of RGCs to axotomy. This disease section will draw similarities to other neurodegenerations, and will integrate information regarding the structure/function as well as development parts of the course.
The course will have the format of lectures on Mondays by experts in the field, followed by student led discussions on Wednesdays. The discussions will encourage students to critically evaluate the literature, to assess the strength and weaknesses offered by various hypotheses, and to identify important gaps in our current knowledge about these important cells.
Development and function of Spinal Cord Circuitry
Summer, every other year. Next offered Summer 2009
(Alex Kolodkin, Lawrence Schramm and Shanthini Sockanathan)
This is a special topics course centered around understanding the generation, logic of neuronal connectivity in the spinal cord. Previous topics included an in-depth assessment of the corticospinal tract (CST), and used the CST as a focus for examining broader issues of axon guidance, axon sprouting and regeneration, and synaptic specificity. Future topics will include development and function of neuronal subtypes in the spinal cord, regeneration and degeneration of spinal circuitry, and integration of spinal circuits in the context of CNS and PNS function.