Course Identification

Title:

Introduction to Neuroscience: Cellular and Synaptic Physiology

Code:

20243171

Lecturers and Teaching Assistants

Lecturers:

Prof. Ofer Yizhar, Prof. Ilan Lampl

TA's:

Dr. Ben Efron

Course Schedule and Location

Year:

2024

Semester:

First Semester

When / Where:

Thursday, 09:15 - 11:00, Wolfson Auditorium

Tutorials
Tuesday, 14:15 - 16:00,

First Lecture:

21/12/2023

End date:

29/02/2024

Field of Study, Course Type and Credit Points

Life Sciences: Lecture; 2.50 points
Life Sciences (Brain Sciences: Systems, Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Track): Lecture; Core; 2.50 points
Life Sciences (ExCLS Track): Lecture; Elective; 2.50 points

Comments

This course will be held by hybrid learning
Tutorials will be held in Zoom
On December 28th the course will take place in Benozio auditorium

Prerequisites

No

Restrictions

Participants:

60

Language of Instruction

English

Attendance and participation

Expected and Recommended

Grade Type

Numerical (out of 100)

Grade Breakdown (in %)

Assignments:

10%

Final:

90%

Evaluation Type

Take-home exam

Scheduled date 1

Date / due date

N/A

Location

N/A

Time

-

Remarks

N/A

Estimated Weekly Independent Workload (in hours)

2

Syllabus

1) Introduction: The structure and basic function of neurons

2) The Ionic basis of the resting potential: Nernst equation, Goldman equation. Pumps.

3) Passive membrane properties: Equivalent electrical circuit, cable theory

4) Active membrane properties and the action potential

5) Hodgkin-Huxley experiments and model

6) Diversity of Ion Channels: Permeability, electrophysiology, single-channel recordings, channel structure. Ligand-gated ion channels (glutamate, GABA, glycine, serotonin, calcium).

7) Synaptic Transmission - General overview. Measurements and modeling of synaptic transmission: The reversal potential, synaptic conductance, excitation and inhibition, Model of ionotropic and ligand-gated synaptic transmission. Short-term synaptic dynamics (synaptic depression and facilitation). Temporal and spatial synaptic integration. Electrical synapses.

8) Synaptic transmission: Transmitter release, vesicles, quantal release, presynaptic molecular mechanisms.

9) Receptors: Molecular cascades, pharmacological manipulations.

10) Neuronal and synaptic plasticity

11) Advanced topics in cellular electrophysiology

12) Exam Rehearsal

Learning Outcomes

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

Demonstrate knowledge of cellular neurophysiology, from basic classic material to more advanced topics.
Understand basic concepts in synaptic function, dynamics and plasticity
Understand the principles of electrophysiological methods for recording neural activity

Reading List

Purves et al., Neuroscience, 6th edition (2018).
Kandel et al., Principles of Neural Science, 6th edition (2021).
Johnston & Wu, Foundations of cellular neurophysiology (1994).

Website

N/A