BL A-415 Nerve cell mechanisms in behavior (3 credits)
BL A-615 Neural bases of behavior (3 credits, Graduate course)
Spring, 2008 - Syllabus and Information
Class: Tuesday - Thursday, 12:45-2:00
Dr. Stark, 111 Macelwane, 977-7151,
Office hrs. 2 - 4 pm Tuesday, 10-12 Thursday, or by appointment.
E-mail- StarkWS@SLU.EDU
home page- http://starklab.slu.edu, course - http://starklab.slu.edu/neuro/SyllabusNeuro98.htm
Text: D. Purves et al., Neuroscience, Sinauer Associates, Inc, New York, 2008 (fourth edition)
DISCLAIMER: This page and the pages linked to it are not corrected for tabs, Greek letters, superscripts, subscripts, underlines or italics
SECOND DISCLAIMER: check at the bottom of each lecture outline as to whether it has been recently updated

As a study guide, a cumulative outline was built. With this, and your favorite word processor, you can use your "find" feature as a powerful index.

The following schedule is tentative, but the exam dates are fixed:

An offering for Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 21) I have a dream

Tues. 1/22 Introduction Chapter 1 and figures from Chapters 6 & 27 and Appendix, Sylvius PodCast
Thurs. 1/24 Neurons and glia Chapter 1, Figures from Chapters 3, 6, 21, Appendix PodCast

Tues. 1/29 Bioelectric potentials, Ion pumps Chapter 2 PodCast
Thurs. 1/31 Action potentials and conductances Chapter 3 PodCast PodcastB

Tues. 2/5 Properties of ion channels, Chapter 4 PodCast, PodCastB

An offering for February Black History Month

Thurs. 2/7 Synapses & Electrophysiology Chapter 5 PodCast, PodCastB

Tues. 2/12 Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators Chapter 6 and 21 PodCast, PodCastB
Interview with psychiatrist Robert Marietta is relevant to several issues in the transmitter outline
Thurs. 2/14 Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators Chapter 6 and 21 PodCast, PodCastB

Tues. 2/19 Second messenger systems through "phosphoinositide and personal reflection Chapter 7 PodCast, PodCastB

Thurs. 2/21 Test 1, Answers here, out of 15, average = 38.2, SD=10.5 , A=48.5-51 (n=3), A- = 45-47 (n=2), B+ = 41 (n=1), B= 36-38 (n=4), B-=32.5-34.5 (n=2), C=19 (n=1), C-=14.5 (n=1)

For 2007, answers here, out of 65 average=35.6, SD=9.9, A=52.5(n=1), A-=43.5-45(n=2), B+=41 (n=2), B=30-35.5(n=3), B-=24-26(n=2), C+=21(n=1)

Tues. 2/26 Second messenger systems starting at cAMP Chapter 7, Neuroanatomy part of Chapter 1, Appendix, the Sylvius CD, Box A in Chapter 19 for prions, Figure from chapter 22 PodCast, PodCastB
Thurs. 2/28 neuroanatomy continued (meet in classroom) PodCast, PodcastB

Tues. 3/4 Brain dissection, Dissection guide, Glossary of neuroanatomical terms

On womens' history month (March), remembering Dian Fossey, known for studies of gorillas, conservation efforts, and confrontation with poachers. She was murdered on Dec. 26, 1985.

Thurs. 3/6 Dissection guide, Glossary of neuroanatomical terms

Tues. 3/11 The Somatic Sensory System and Pain Chapters 9-10, PodCast, PodCastB
Thurs. 3/13 The Somatic Sensory System and Pain Chapters 9-10, Vision and the eye Chapter 11 PodCast, PodcastB

Tues. 3/18 and Thurs. 3/20 Spring Break
(here's an offering for Good Friday and Passover)

Tues. 3/25 Vision and the eye Chapter 11, Vision and the Brain Chapter 12 PodCast, PodcastB
Thurs. 3/27 Audition and vestibular system Chapters 13 & 14, PodCast, PodCastB

Tues. 4/1 Olfaction and gustation Chapter 15, PodCast, PodCastB

Thurs. 4/3 Test 2, Answers here, out of 65, average = 43.69, SD=6.04, A=>50 (n=3), A- = 48 (n=1), B+ = 44-45 (n=3), B= 42-43 (n=3), B-=40.5 (n=1), C+=31.5-34.5 (n=2)

For 2007, answers here, out of 65, average=29.8, SD=10.0, A=41-47.5 (n=2), A-=35-38.5 (n=2), B+=30.5 (n=2), B=27 (n=1), B-=21.5-22 (n=2), C=17-17.5 (n=2)

Tues. 4/8 Spinal Motor Control Chapter 16-17, Brain Motor Control Chapters 18-20, PodCast, PodCastB

Thurs. 4/10 , Brain Motor Control Chapters 18-20 (continued), start Neural Development Chapter 22-23, PodCast
Graduate student presentation: Peter Pichet Saengthien: Regeneration after CNS injuries, pdf

Tues. 4/15 , Neural Development (continued) Chapter 22-23 PodCast, PodCastB
Graduate student presentation: Chrissy Simmons: Migration of neurons during embryonic development. pdf

Thurs. 4/17 Memory at the Cellular Level Chapters 8 & 24 Language and Cognition Chapters 26-27, PodCast, PodCastB

Tues. 4/22 Biorhythms Chapter 28, PodCast, PodCastB
Undergraduate student presentation: Laura Gunter: Neurophysiology of the Regulation of Food Intake. pdf

Thurs. 4/24 Emotion and Motivation Chapter 29, Neuroendocrinology Chapter 30, PodCast, (sorry, PodCastB was lost)
Graduate student presentation: Angie Hakenewerth, Neuropathic pain and associated Na+ channelopathies, pdf

Tues. 4/29 Class cancelled because of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting

Thurs. 5/1 Memory and the Brain Chapter 31, Review and Synthesis, PodCast, PodCastB

Thursday, May 8, 2008 12 noon - 1:50 p.m. Final, Answers here, out of 65, average=40.69. SD==6.63, A=>48-51 (n=3), A- = 42.5-45.5 (n=2), B+ = 41-43 (n=2), B= 37.5-39.5 (n=3), B-=31.5-33 (n=2), C+=29.5 (n=1)

For 2007, answers here, out of 65, average=26, SD=12.37, A=48 (n=1), A-=42 (n=1), B+=38 (n=1), B=36.5 (n=1), B-=24=27.5 (n=2), C+=21 (n=1), C= 17.5 (n=1), C-= 12-16.5 (n=3)

Attendance: While attendance will not be taken, there is no way to do well in this course without taking notes in class.

Grading: Tests and final are 65 points short answer. All students must take all three tests. Tests and final are not cumulative - they cover material since the previous test. The midterm grade will be the grade on the first test. The scores will be curved consistent with every year this course has been taught; for your information, last year's curves are printed on this syllabus. The course grade will be based on the exam scores. In the last few years, most grades are A's and B's, but about 20-25% of the class, those scoring less than 50%, were lower. Graduate students, those registering for BL A-615, will also give a presentation in which recent research is important (see library techniques). Graduate students are not given a grade advantage, extra credit for the presentation, over undergraduates. The grade is based strictly on the exam.

There is a hyperlink for Course description
There is a hyperlink for Course Objectives

There is a hyperlink to the academic honesty policy of the College and the statement that we are required by the administration to include in the syllabus. All suspicious incidents are reported to the Dean's office.

If you have special needs, these must be documented with the disabilities office:
Adam Meyer, Office of Disabilties Services, 977-8885, Room 36, DuBourg Hall, 221 No. Grand.; confidentiality will be observed in all inquiries.
I ask you to see me in the first two weeks of class to be certain I know what accomodations to make.

As a study guide, the following are posted:
Midterm Exam and Midterm Exam Key for 1996
Final Exam and Final Exam Key for 1996
Midterm Exam and Midterm Exam Key for 1997
Final exam and Final exam key for 1997
Midterm Exam and Midterm key for 1998
Final Exam and Answers on the Final for 1998
For 2000, View midterm pdf (880K) Midterm exam and Midterm exam with answers
For 2000, View final pdf (804K) Final exam and Final exam with answers
Midterm exam and Answers for 2002
Final and Final Answers for 2002
For 2003 Midterm and Answers here
For 2003 final here and the final answers here
Test 1 here; Test 1's answers here for 2005
Test 2 here, Test 2 Answers here, Figs 1st p, 2nd p, 3rd p, 4th p, for 2005
Final here, Answers here, for 2005

As a resource, the following graduate student PowerPoint presentations from 2006-7 are posted
Graduate student presentation - Spencer Schwarz - Prions
Graduate student presentation - Michelle Li - Parkinson's disease
Graduate student presentation - Matthew Blewitt - Axon path finding
Graduate student presentation - Matthew Hulvey - Multiple sclerosis
Graduate student presentation - Julius Kim - Alzheimers
Graduate student presentation - Laura Mecker, Alzheimer's treatments
Undergraduate student presentation, Alejandro Ramirez - Sleep disorders and treatments
Undergraduate student presentation, Hetal Patel - Rewiring in the blind

Assessment will be a questionaire administered late in the semester basically addressed to whether the course met the objectives and what changes the students might suggest.

The department will administer the teacher evaluation using an on-line form. I will not see those replies until after final grades. They will be anonymous. The department will keep track of who replies and has reserved the right not to issue a grade to students who do not reply

Here are Hyperlinks for assessment reports for previous years:
Course Assessment Report for 2000
Course Assessment Report for 2002
Course Assessment Report for 2003
Course Assessment Report for 2005
Course Assessment Report for 2006
Course Assessment Report for 2007
Course Assessment Report for 2008

This page last revised on June 4, 2008

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