BIONB 4130 - Molecules of Social Behavior and Emotion

(PBS)

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: BIONB 2220 or permission of instructor. Offered alternate years.

D. P. McCobb.

The goal is to explore the rapidly developing field encompassing the neuroscience of emotion, motivation, and social predispositions. Focusing on neuroendocrine modulators (transmitters and hormones), including oxytocin, vasopressin, serotonin, and dopamine, together with their receptors, we will consider their roles in desire or ‘seeking,’ reward, fear and aggression, affiliation and cooperation, courtship and mating, and parental care. Roles of modulators will be considered in contexts of neural systems, the ecology of social interactions, and the evolution of diversity, by emphasizing cutting edge comparative, as well as manipulative studies. We work as a learning community, with lots of student input on focal topics, frequent short oral and written presentations, peer feedback, and lots of group discussion.

Outcome 1: To explore recent experimental evidence implicating specific neuromodulators in behavioral drives of emotion and social behaviors.

Outcome 2: To become conversant in methods used to measure and manipulate molecular players, and assess their effects on behavioral choice.

Outcome 3: To expand our knowledge of neuroanatomical and physiological contexts in which neuromodulators operate.

Outcome 4: To appreciate the adaptive significance and evolution of neuromodulator systems by focusing on comparisons between closely related species with contrasting social ecologies.

Outcome 5: To propose experiments that can extend our knowled e, and imagine where they might lead in the future.

Outcome 6: To acquire vocabulary and enhance oral and written skills for communicating in this field.