9.01 | Fall 2007 | Undergraduate

Introduction to Neuroscience

Readings

Textbook

Bear, Mark F., Barry W. Connors, and Michael A. Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain. 3rd ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006. ISBN: 9780781760034. [Preview in Google Books.]

It will be assumed by the lecturers that you have read the assigned readings before class, and you will be examined on material covered in the reading assignments. Warning: the reading assignments are substantial; do not put them off until just prior to an exam!

WEEK # TOPICS LECTURERS READINGS
1 Introduction Seung Chapter 1
Part 1: Neurons
2 Cellular neuroanatomy: neurons and glia Bear Chapter 2
Neurophysiology 1: resting potential Bear Chapter 3
3 Neurophysiology 2: action potential Bear Chapter 4
Synaptic transmission 1: physiology Bear Chapter 5
4 Synaptic transmission 2: chemistry Cooke Chapter 6
5 Exam 1    
Part 2: Neural systems
5 (cont.) Organization of the vertebrate brain Graybiel Chapter 7
6 Vision 1: the eye Seung Chapter 9
7

Anatomy quiz

Vision 2: thalamus and V1 cortex

Seung Chapter 10
Vision 3: beyond V1 Seung Chapter 10
8 Hearing Seung Chapter 11
Olfaction Seung Chapter 8
9 Motor system 1 Seung Chapter 13
Motor system 2 Seung Chapter 14
10 Exam 2    
Part 3: Brain and behavior
11 Chemical control of brain 1 Bear Chapter 15
12 Brain disorders Tsai Chapter 22
13 Chemical control of brain 2 motivation Bear Chapters 15 and 16
Learning and memory 1 Seung Chapter 24
14 Attention Desimone Chapter 21
Learning and memory 2 Seung Chapter 25
15 Emotion Seung Chapter 18
Sleep Hobson Chapter 19
  Final exam    

Course Info

As Taught In
Fall 2007
Learning Resource Types
Problem Sets