Course Identification

Introduction to Neuroscience: Molecular Neuroscience -Genes to Behavior
20233402

Lecturers and Teaching Assistants

Dr. Ivo Spiegel, Prof. Yaniv Ziv, Dr. Meital Oren-Suissa
N/A

Course Schedule and Location

2023
Second Semester
Thursday, 09:15 - 11:00, Wolfson Auditorium
20/04/2023
21/07/2023

Field of Study, Course Type and Credit Points

Life Sciences: Lecture; Elective; Regular; 2.50 points
Life Sciences (Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Track): Lecture; Obligatory; Regular; 2.50 points
Life Sciences (Brain Sciences: Systems, Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Track): Lecture; Obligatory; Regular; 2.50 points

Comments

*One of the core courses in Brain Sciences

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge in molecular biology

Restrictions

60

Language of Instruction

English

Attendance and participation

Required in at least 80% of the lectures

Grade Type

Numerical (out of 100)

Grade Breakdown (in %)

20%
80%

Evaluation Type

Examination

Scheduled date 1

30/07/2023
Wolfson Auditorium
0900-1200
N/A

Scheduled date 2

20/08/2023
FGS, Rm C
0900-1200
N/A

Estimated Weekly Independent Workload (in hours)

1

Syllabus

Establishing a causal relationship between an animal’s genetic make-up and its behavior is one of the foremost challenges in neuroscience: while it seems clear that certain normal and pathological behavioral traits have a genetic basis, bridging the gaps between genes, neurons, circuits and behavior encompasses nearly all disciplines of neuroscience and is thus far from trivial. In this course, we will present basic concepts on multiple levels of nervous system organization & function and discuss how they are connected to and affect each other.
 
The syllabus will include the following topics:
- Evolution of the brain and animal behavior: innate versus adaptive behavior
- Neurogenetics - the hereditary basis of behavioral traits
- Genomic & transcriptional regulation in neurons
- Epigenetics and transgenerational inheritance of behavioral traits
- Cell biology of neurons: cellular diversity 
- Neural circuits: assembly, from micro- to meso-scale circuit function
- Experience-dependent plasticity: Different forms of cellular and circuit plasticity, learning & memory 
- C.elegans as a model system for molecular and systems neuroscience
- From genes to sexual behavior

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate proficiency in the unique properties of brain cells, their diversity and their different roles within brain circuits.
  2. Understand the basic processes governing the assembly and function of neural circuits.
  3. Understand the processes of neural plasticity at the synaptic, cellular and circuit levels.
  4. Become familiar with modern concepts and techniques in cellular and circuit neuroscience and be able to read and understand current literature.

Reading List

  1. Introductory material: Kandel and Schwarz, Principles of Neural Science, Chapters 1-3.
  2. Additional material will be provided throughout the course.

Website

N/A