Neuroscience 1051

Fundamentals of Neuroscience
Spring 2018
Tues & Thurs 9:30-10:50AM
Anderson Hall Rm 14

Instructor: Cynthia Gooch, PhD

Office: Weiss Hall Rm 563
Email: cgooch@temple.edu (please include course number in subject line)
Office Hours: Thursdays 2-5PM, and by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Evie Ordones Sanchez

Office: Weiss Hall Rm 853
Email: tuh18942@temple.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 4:30-6:30PM

Diamond Peer Teacher: Amanda Lewis

Email: tuf45463@temple.edu
Office Hours: TBD
Office Hours Location: TBD

Required textbooks: Purves, D. et al. (2012). Neuroscience (5th edition). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer
Associates, ISBN 978-0-87893-695-3.
Prerequisites: None.

Course Goals
We will study the biological basis of behavior starting at a microscopic level – the neuron and its inner
workings, and work our way up to the systems responsible for our experience of the world through sight
and touch, and how these systems are integrated. The major course goal is to introduce you to
neuroscience and its multidisciplinary dimensions.

Disability Disclosure
This course is open to all students who meet the academic requirements for participation. Any student
who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor
privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Disability Resources and Services at 215-
204-1280 in 100 Ritter Annex can coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with
documented disabilities.

Academic Requirements
Consistent attendance is required to pass this course with a grade of C or higher. The course grade is
based on three midterm examinations and a cumulative final exam.

Academic Freedom Disclosure

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has
adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilites (Policy # 03.70.02), which
can be accessed through the following link:
http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=03.70.02
Course Grade
Course grade is based upon exam grades. Each midterm will be worth 22% of your grade and the final
will be worth 34%.
93.00% to 100% A 73.00% to 76.99% C
90.00% to 92.99% A- 70.00% to 72.99% C-
87.00% to 89.99% B+ 67.00% to 69.99% D+
83.00% to 86.99% B 63.00% to 66.99% D
80.00% to 82.99% B- 60.00% to 62.99% D-
77.00% to 79.99% C+ Below 60.00% F

Exams
Midterm exams will be 80 minutes in length and consist of 40 multiple choice or labeling questions
worth about 2.5 points each. The final exam will be 2 hours in length and consist of 80 multiple choice or
labeling questions. All exams will be taken on the dates indicated. If you have a valid reason for missing
an exam, including religious holidays), a make-up will be allowed ONLY if you contact Dr. Gooch via
email PRIOR to the exam time. On exam days, late students will not be allowed to take the exam after
the first student turns in his or her completed exam. Please bring at least one sharpened #2 lead pencil
to each exam.

Extra credit opportunities will be made available throughout the semester. For example, attending the
Neuroscience seminar series (Schedule posted on Canvas) and signing in with class personnel is worth 5
pts per attendance. DO NOT sign in and then leave without attending the seminar, as we will note this
and you will not receive extra credit. If your schedule prohibits you from regularly attending these
meetings (They are typically on Wednesdays from 2:30-4PM) there is alternate extra credit available.
You must provide proof of course meetings or other requirements during that time to get the
opportunity to do the alternate extra credit. You cannot both attend the seminars and do the alternate
extra credit.

Course lecture topics and reading assignments

1/16-1/18 Week 1: Intro topics

Assignment: Purves Chapter 1 – Studying the nervous system
1/23-1-25 Week 2: Neural Signaling
Assignment: Purves Chapter 2 –Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells
Purves Chapter 3 – Voltage dependent membrane permeability
1/30-2/1 Week 3: Membrane Potentials
Assignment: Purves Chapter 4- Ion channels and transporters
2/6 Week 4: Review
2/8 Week 4: EXAM 1
2/13-2/15 Week 5: Receptors in the Brain and Their Function
Assignment: Purves Chapter 5 – Synaptic Transmission
2/20-2/22 Week 6: Receptors in the Brain and Their Function
 Assignment: Purves Chapter 6 – Neurotransmitters and their receptors
Purves Chapter 7 – Molecular signaling within neurons
2/27-3/1 Week 7: Molecules, Genes, and the Nervous System and Plasticity in Synapses
Assignment: Purves Chapter 8 – Synaptic Plasticity
3/13 Week 8: Review
3/15 Week 8: EXAM 2
3/20-3/22 Week 9: Neuroanatomy & Vision part 1
Assignment: Purves Appendix: Survey of Human Neuroanatomy
Purves Chapter 11 – Vision: The Eye
3/27-3/29 Week 10: Vision & Somatosensory
Assignment: Purves Chapter 12 – Central Visual Pathways
Purves Chapters 9 & 10 – The Somatic Sensory System
4/3-4/5 Week 11: Motor systems
Assignment: Purves Chapter 16 - Lower motor neuron circuits and motor control
Purves Chapter 17- Upper motor neuron control of the brainstem and spinal
cord
4/10 Week 12: Review
4/12 Week 12: EXAM 3
4/17 Week 13: Association Cortices
Assignment: Purves Chapter 26 – The association cortices
4/19 Week 13: Emotions
Assignment: Purves Chapter 21 – The Visceral Motor System
Purves Chapter 29 – Emotions
4/24 Week 14: Memory
Assignment: Purves Chapter 31 – Memory
4/26 Week 14: Review

Final Exam: Cumulative over the reading and lecture material presented during the semester
Final takes place Thursday May 3 at 8:00AM-10:00AM in Anderson 14