9.17 | Spring 2013 | Undergraduate

Systems Neuroscience Lab

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

“MATLAB and Simulink are registered trademarks of The MathWorks, Inc. See www.mathworks.com/trademarks for a list of additional trademarks. Other product or brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.”

Course Info

As Taught In
Spring 2013
Learning Resource Types
Lecture Notes
Written Assignments