BIONB 4320 - [Neural Circuits for Motor Control in Health and Disease]

Fall. 3 credits.

Prerequisite: BIONB 2220 or ECE 2100 or instructor consent. Next offered 2014-2015. (Offered alternate years)

J. H. Goldberg.

Almost all behaviors-from speech to a cross court forehand-are mediated by the contraction of muscles. This course examines the neural origins of motor behavior, from simple reflexes to complex learned motor sequences. Ascending the motor hierarchy, we will study the neuromuscular junction, spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. At each level, we will examine the structure and function of the local microcircuit, as well as diseases-such as myasthenia gravis, stroke, ALS, ataxia and Parkinson’s-that result from that circuit’s dysfunction.

Each week we will discuss a topic relating to the neurobiology of motor control, with a lecture on Tuesday, followed by a student-led presentation of relevant research papers on the following Thursday. Students will be evaluated on the basis of their participation, their presentation of an original research article, their final project (a 5 page grant proposal on a research question relevant to the course), and a final exam.

Outcome 1: To understand the structure and function of the vertebrate motor system, including neural mechanisms of human movement disorders.

Outcome 2: To critically read and comprehend primary literature.

Outcome 3: To distill large amounts of information into central concepts of nervous system function, and to articulate these concepts both verbally and in writing.

Outcome 4: To creatively come up with new ideas and design experiments to test them.