BISC 421 Fall 2014

Title: Neurobiology
When and Where:
Lectures: MWF, 11:00 - 11:50, SAL 101
Discussion Sections:
13395R
Discussion
13396R
Discussion
13397R
Discussion
13398R
Discussion
13399R
Discussion
13400R
Discussion
13401R
Discussion
13402R
Discussion

2:00-3:50pm
2:00-3:50pm
2:00-3:50pm
2:00-3:50pm
12:00-1:50pm
12:00-1:50pm
2:00-3:50pm
8:00-9:50am

Thursday
Friday
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Thursday

ZHS360
ZHS360
ZHS360
ZHS360
ZHS360
ZHS360
ZHS360
THH108

TAs:
Rishabh Jain: rishabh@usc.edu
Chiara Mazzasette: mazzaset@usc.edu
Ramsay Brown: ramsaybr@usc.edu
Pragya Goel: pragyago@usc.edu
Instructors:
Dion Dickman, Ph.D.
Asst. Professor
Neurobiology Section
Biological Sciences
HNB 309
0-7533
dickman@usc.edu

Judith Hirsch, Ph.D.

Professor
Neurobiology Section
Biological Sciences
HNB 328
1-2210
jhirsch@usc.edu

Emily Liman, Ph.D.

Professor
Neurobiology Section
Biological Sciences
HNB 301
1-1454
liman@usc.edu

Office Hours:
Dion Dickman: Wed. 4-5 pm or by appointment
Judith Hirsch: By appointment only
Emily Liman: By appointment only

Ramsay
Rishi
Pragya
Pragya
Rishi
Chiara
Chiara
Ramsay

Purpose: According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, neuroscience is defined as a branch of the life
sciences that deals with the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, or molecular biology of nerves and nervous
tissue and especially with their relation to behavior and learning. This course is designed to assist you in
understanding how individual nerve cells process and transmit information, how these neurons organize to
form the functional circuits that make up your sensory and motor systems, and how the structure and function
of the nervous system are shaped by genetic factors that define how you perceive and respond to the world
around you.
Grading: The course is divided into three modules with an Exam given for each module, each for 100 points.
The full grade for the Discussion Section is 50 points, based on a brief oral presentation, quizzes, and
participation; more detailed information will be provided at the first discussion group meeting. There are no
make-up quizzes.
No make-up exams will be given. Students who are unable to take an exam at the scheduled time must talk
with the Professor giving the exam as soon as possible. Note that the bar for being excused from an exam is
extremely high. Students who have missed an exam for medical reasons must provide the Professor with proof
of illness shortly afterward. If the student has a valid, documented reason for missing the exam, the average
score on the remaining exams will be weighted to compensate for the missed test.
Course Material: Course materials (syllabus, readings, lecture figures, etc.) will be available on Blackboard.
https://blackboard.usc.edu. Develop the habit of checking Blackboard. Many important announcements will
appear first on Blackboard.
Text: Neuroscience, 4th or 5th Edition. Purves et al., editors. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland MA, 2008 or 2012
and ISBN# 0878936971 or 9780878936953 respectively. Students may use an earlier version of the text, but
must be aware that the instructors often use the later version for lectures and exams.
Students with Disabilities: Students requesting academic accommodations based on a disability are required
to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved
accommodations can be obtained from DSP when adequate documentation is filed. Please be sure the letter is
delivered to one of the instructors as early in the semester as possible. Disability Services and Programs is
located in Student Union 301 and their phone number is (213) 740-0776.
Statement on academic integrity: USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General
principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the
expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations
both to protect ones own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using anothers work as
ones own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. Scampus, the Student
Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are
located in Appendix A: http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/SCAMPUS/gov/. Students will be referred to the
Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any suspicion of
academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/.

Class Schedule
Topic
Module I:
Week 1:
08.25
Cell Biology of the Neuron
08.27
Experimental Methods in Neuroscience
08.29
The Membrane Potential

4th ed.

Lecturer

5th ed.

Dickman
Dickman
Dickman

Ch 1, 1-11
p19-21;35;42
Ch 2

Ch 1, 1-11
p18-20;36;42
Ch 2

Week 2:
09.01
09.03
09.05

No Class-Labor Day
The Action Potential
Ion Channels

Dickman
Dickman

Ch 3
Ch 4, 61-70

Ch 3
Ch4, 57-68

Week 3:
09.08
09.10
09.12

Structure and Diseases of Ion Channels

Synaptic Transmission I
Synaptic Transmission II

Dickman
Dickman
Dickman

Ch 4, 70-77
Ch 5
Ch 5

Ch 4, 69-72
Ch 5
Ch 5

Week 4:
09.15
09.17
09.19

Neurotransmitter Receptors
Neurotransmitters, Synthesis and Reuptake
Intracellular Signal Transduction

Dickman
Dickman
Dickman

Ch 6
Ch 6
Ch 7

Ch 6
Ch 6
Ch 7

Dickman
Dickman

Ch 8
Ch 8

Ch 8
Ch 8

Week 5:
09.22
Synaptic plasticity I
09.24
Synaptic plasticity II
End of Material for Module I
Module II:
09.26
Organization of the Nervous System

Hirsch

Ch 1

Ch 1

Week 6:
9.29
10.01
10.03

Exam on Module I
Motor: Spinal Cord, Brainstem and Cortex
Motor: Basal Ganglia

Dickman
Hirsch
Hirsch

Ch 16, Ch 17
Ch 18

Ch 16, Ch 17
Ch 18

Week 7:
10.06
10.08
10.10

Motor: Cerebellum
Motor: Eye Movements
Visceral Motor Systems

Hirsch
Hirsch
Hirsch

Ch 19
Ch 20
Ch 21

Ch 19
Ch 20
Ch 21

Week 8:
10.13
10.15
10.17

Vision I: The Eye and Photoreception

Vision II: Early Visual Pathway
Vision III: Higher Cortical Processing

Hirsch
Hirsch
Hirsch

Ch 11, 253-77
Ch 11, 229-249
Chs 11,12, 277-96 Chs 11,12, 249-63
Ch 12, 297-311
Ch 12, 263-76

Week 9
10.20
10.22
10.24

Peripheral Auditory System

Central Auditory System
Vestibular System

Hirsch
Hirsch
Hirsch

Ch 13, 313-332
Ch 13, 232-342
Ch 14

Hirsch
Liman

Ch 24
Ch 9

Week 10:
10.27
Experience-Dependent Plasticity
10.29
Somatosensation
End of Material for Module II

Ch 13 277-294
Ch 13 294-302

Ch 9

Module III
10.31
Pain

Liman

Ch10

Week 11:
11.03
11.05
11.07

Exam on Module II
Olfactory system
Taste system

Hirsch
Liman
Liman

Ch 15, p363-381 Ch 15, p321-340

Ch 15, p381-389 Ch 15, p341-349

Week 12:
11.10
11.12
11.14

Innate Behaviors and Pheromones

Circadian Rhythms and Sleep I
Circadian Rhythms and Sleep II

Liman
Liman
Liman

Ch 15, p370-371 Ch 15, p328-329

Ch 28
Ch 28
Ch 28
Ch 28

Week 13:
11.17
11.19
11.21

Guest Lecture
Lateralization, Language and Emotion
Attention and Memory

TBD
Liman
Liman

Ch 27, 29
Ch 26, 31

Ch 27, 29
Ch 26, 31

Week 14:
11.24
11.26
11.28

Sex differences
No Class-Thanksgiving Holiday
No Class-Thanksgiving Holiday

Liman

Ch 30

Ch 30

Liman
Liman
Liman

Ch 23
Ch 23

Ch 23
Ch 23

Week 15:
12.01
Construction of Neural Circuits I
12.03
Construction of Neural Circuits II
12.05
Diseases of the nervous system
End of Material for Module III
Finals Week:
Exam on Module III
Wed, Dec 10
11 AM -1 PM

Liman

Ch 10