Calendar

Each week includes an introductory lecture that covers the principles for the week followed by a dry lab recitation session where students discuss weekly papers that focus on the applications of lab techniques in actual experiments. Weekly labs sessions feature in-class quizzes followed by a hands-on wet lab.

WEEK # TOPICS LECTURES RECITATIONS
(DRY LAB)
LABORATORIES
(WET LAB)
ASSIGNMENTS DUE
Section 1. General Course Information
1 Course expectations, methods for studying the brain, animal research and safety Lecture 1 No class No class  
Section 2. Equipment Overview
2 Anatomical terminology, concepts and equipment in neurophysiology Lecture 2 Recitation 1

Laboratory 1

In-class quiz 1

 
Section 3. Classical Anatomy
3 Tissue sectioning, staining, and microscopy Lecture 3 No class

Laboratory 2

In-class quiz 2

 
Section 4. Cockroach Receptive Fields
4 Introduction to neurophysiology and action potentials at work Lecture 4 Recitation 2

Laboratory 3

In-class quiz 3

 
Section 5. Frog CAP Stimulation
5 The compound potential and action potential (frog nerve) Lecture 5 Recitation 3

Laboratory 4

In-class quiz 4

 
Section 6. Rat Barrel Physiology
6 Principles of sensory processing Lecture 6 Recitation 4

Laboratory 5

In-class quiz 5

 
7 Science writing Lecture 7 Recitation 5

Laboratory 6

In-class quiz 6

 
Section 7. MATLAB® Tutorials
8 Plotting, spike detection, movie creation and data analysis Lecture 8 Recitation 6

Laboratory 7

In-class quiz 7

MATLAB® project 0 due in recitation

MATLAB® project 1 due at end of lab

Section 8. Fly Vision Project
9 Practice preparation Lecture 9 Recitation 7

Laboratory 8

In-class quiz 8

Research report 1 first draft due in lecture
10 Movie design No class No class

Laboratory 9

In-class quiz 9

MATLAB® project 2 due in lab
11 Data collection Lecture 10 Recitation 8 Laboratory 10 Research report 1 final draft due in lab
12 Data analysis 1 Lecture 11 Recitation 9

Laboratory 11

In-class quiz 10

MATLAB® project 3 due in recitation
13 Data analysis 2 Lecture 12 Recitation 10

Laboratory 12

In-class quiz 11

 
Section 9. Human Physiology
14 MR Imaging and electroencephalography Lecture 13 Recitation 11 Laboratory 13 Research report 2 due in lab

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