NEUROSCIENCE LAB METHODS

NSC 4353, Fall 2005

Room MP2.238
Section 002: Thursdays 2:00PM – 4:45 PM
Instructor:
Linda I. Perrotti, Ph.D., JO4.206
E-mail: Perrotti@utdallas.edu
Office hours: Tuesday 1:00PM - 2:00PM or by appointment

Teaching Assistant:
Crystal Novtiski, x2376, GR4.606
E-mail: novitski@utdallas.edu
Office hours: Wednesday 11:00 – 12:00PM

This course will be offered in Fall and Spring semesters every year as a supplement to the
undergraduate lecture courses Neurobiology I and II offered in Spring and Fall, respectively. The
course will provide students with hands-on experience working with living biological preparations and
training in the basic skills of neurobiology including: electrophysiological signal acquisition and analysis;
surgical and stereotaxic techniques; tissue dissection and histological preparation for anatomical analysis.
Initial experiments will involve the use of electrical stimulators, amplifiers and oscilloscopes for the
analysis of electronic models of neurons. These skills will then be applied in experiments involving the in
vitro neuromuscular preparation obtained from frogs. This preparation will be analyzed as a model for
human nerve-muscle disorders such as multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis. Further experiments
will involve deeply anesthetized rats which provide the simplest mammalian model of human brain
structure and function. Experiments will examine putative physiological mechanisms involved in learning,
memory and epilepsy. Grading will be based upon lab participation and five publication-style lab
reports. Class size will be limited to 16 students per semester and will require a small laboratory fee.
This course will be accepted for biology credit.

COURSE SCHEDULE
Aug 18 Introduction to Electronics, Methods and Publication-Style Format
Aug 25 Use of Electrophysiological Apparatus
Sept 1 EXP #1: Measurement of Model Membrane Constants
Sept 8 Introduction to Frog Sciatic Nerve Preparation
Sept 15 EXP #2: Compound Action Potential: Conduction Velocity (EXP #1 Report Due)
Sept 22 EXP #3: EndPlate Potential: Input/Output Analysis
Sept 29 EXP #3: (continued) EndPlate Potential: Paired Pulse Plasticity
Oct 6 Introduction to Rat Stereotaxic and Surgical Techniques (EXP #2 Report Due)
Oct 13 Introduction to In Vivo Electrophysiology in Rats
Oct 20 EXP #4: SomatoSensory-Evoked Cortical Responses (EXP #3 Report Due)
Oct 27 EXP #4: (continued) Electrophysiology Depth Profiles
Nov 3 Introduction Hippocampal Electrophysiology
Nov 10 EXP #5: Hippocampal Plasticity: Long-Term Potentiation (EXP #4 Report Due)
Nov 17 EXP #5: (continued) Electrophysiology Data Analysis
Nov 24 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING
Dec 1 FINALS WEEK (EXP #5 Report Due)