MNSC501: Medical Neuroscience

An interdisciplinary introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system team-taught by all faculty members in the Department of Neuroscience, plus several guest clinicians.  This course provides a broad overview of modern neuroscience, emphasizing:

• cellular and molecular neuroscience, including transmitter neurochemistry, neural plasticity, and the biology of neural stem cells;
• systems neuroscience, focusing on sensory, motor, limbic and higher cognitive systems;
• neuroanatomy, taught in small-group, case-based sessions utilizing human cadaver brains and interactive computer-based learning; and
• clinical neuroscience, including correlations on CNS infections, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, disorder of muscle, stroke, brainstem lesions, sleep disorders, schizophrenia, affective disorders, and Alzheimer's disease.

Prerequisites: Mammalian Physiology.
Spring Quarter, 10 hours per week (7 units).

Course Director: Lise Eliot, Ph.D.