Course Identification

Title:

Introduction to Neuroscience: Cellular and Synaptic Physiology

Code:

20263221

Lecturers and Teaching Assistants

Lecturers:

Prof. Ofer Yizhar, Dr. Inbar Saraf Sinik

TA's:

N/A

Course Schedule and Location

Year:

2026

Semester:

First Semester

When / Where:

Thursday, 09:15 - 11:00, WSoS, Rm B

Tutorials
Thursday, 12:15 - 14:00, Science Teaching Lab 3

First Lecture:

30/10/2025

End date:

29/01/2026

Field of Study, Course Type and Credit Points

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

Comments

This course will be held by hybrid learning
Tutorials will be held in person from 20/11.
On Thursday 13/11/25 the course is cancelled.
The tutorial will be held on Thursday 11/12 12:15-1400 at WSoS room C. No lecture on Thursday 11/12 between 9:15-11:00.
The course will be held on Thursday 1/1/26 between 12:15-14:00 (instead of the tutorial) at WSoS Room C.
A makeup session will be held on Sunday 4/1/26 9:15-11:00 at Science Teaching Lab 3

Prerequisites

No

Restrictions

Participants:

60

Language of Instruction

English

Registration by

Registration By:28/10/2025

Attendance and participation

Expected and Recommended

Grade Type

Numerical (out of 100)

Grade Breakdown (in %)

Assignments:

10%

Final:

90%

Evaluation Type

Examination

Scheduled date 1

Date / due date

08/02/2026

Location

WSoS, Rm C

Time

0900-1200

Remarks

N/A

Scheduled date 2

Date / due date

05/03/2026

Location

WSoS, Rm C

Time

0900-1200

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) Hodgkin-Huxley - continued; somatic and axonal excitability and chloride gradients

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

8) 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.

9) Short-term synaptic dynamics (synaptic depression and facilitation). Temporal and spatial synaptic integration. Electrical synapses.

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

11) Receptors: Molecular cascades, pharmacological manipulations.

12) Neuronal and synaptic plasticity

13) Advanced topics in cellular electrophysiology

14) Exam Rehearsal

Lecture schedule:

1) Introduction: The structure and basic function of Neurons. (30/10/2025)

2) The Ionic basis of the resting potential: Nernst equation, Goldman equation. Pumps. (6/11/2025)

[2 week break]

3) Passive membrane properties. Equivalent electrical circuit. Cable theory: derivation, solutions, and implications for neuronal function. (27/11/2025)

4) Active membrane properties and the action potential. (4/12/2025)

5) Hodgkin-Huxley experiments and model. (11/12/2025)

6) Synaptic transmission: Transmitter release, vesicles, quantal release, presynaptic molecular mechanisms. (18/12/2025)

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. (25/12/2025) – Christmas day, might reschedule

8) Ion Channels: Permeability, electrophysiology, single-channel recordings, channel structure. Ligand-gated ion channels (glutamate, GABA, glycine, serotonin). Basic pharmacological tools. Clinical aspects of channel dysfunction. (1/1/2026) - New Year, might reschedule

9) Receptors: Molecular cascades, pharmacological manipulations. (8/1/2026)

10) Neuronal Plasticity: NMDA versus AMPA receptors; Long-term potentiation (LTP) and beyond. (15/1/2026)

11) Advanced topics in cellular electrophysiology & Exam Rehearsal. (22/1/2026).

12) Exam rehearsal (29/1/2026)

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