How are brain states, such as sleep and wakefulness, attention, and motivation generated? How do these states affect sensory processing and behavior? How are memories encoded and stored, and how do brain states affect these processes? This course provides students with an overview of recent studies using electrophysiological, genetic, and behavioral techniques aimed at answering these questions.
Course Requirements:
Course grades will be based on: 1) in-class quizzes given prior to weekly paper discussions, 2) participation in in-class discussion of assigned readings, 3) take-home problem sets posted on C-Tools, 4) a short (2-3 page) written research proposal, and 5) written critiques of classmates research proposals.
Intended Audience:
This course is geared to upper-level Biology, CMB, and Neuroscience majors, and graduate students.
Class Format:
There will be two ninety-minute classes each week. Classes will be a mixture of interactive lectures aimed at introducing new techniques or concepts, discussion of research articles, and group work.