Principles of Neurophysiology
Cornell University, BIONB 4910, Spring 2022
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Course Description
Laboratory-oriented course designed to teach the concepts and tools of cellular neurophysiology through hands-on experience with extracellular and intracellular electrophysiological techniques, and computer acquisition and analysis of laboratory results. Students explore signal transmission in the nervous system by examining the cellular basis of resting and action potentials, and synaptic transmission and optogenetic control of behavior and physiology. Lecture time is used to review nervous system physiology, introduce laboratory exercises, discuss lab results and primary research papers, and for presentation of additional experimental preparations and methods. Invertebrate preparations are used as model systems.
Student Outcomes
- Students should understand the contemporary experimental paradigms in modern neurophysiology and become technically competent with the extracellular and intracellular recording techniques used to explore nervous system physiology.
- Students should deepen their understanding of the ionic mechanisms underlying neuronal excitability and synaptic communication in the nervous system.
- Students should develop their skills in communicating scientific results effectively through written lab reports and oral presentations.
- Students should refine their critical reading skills of primary scientific literature.
- Students should refine their ability to develop testable hypotheses, and develop independent scientific thinking.
Selected Topics
- Introduction to Electrophysiological Instrumentation and Recording
- Neuronal Simulations
- Extracellular Recordings of the Crayfish Superficial Flexor System
- Action Potential Conduction
- Intracellular Recordings and the Ionic Basis of the Resting Potential
- Neuromodulation
- Synaptic Transmission
- Synaptic Plasticity
- Optogenetics & Fluorescence Imaging
- Evolutionary Neuroscience