Winter 07/Spring 08 Course Descriptions

All courses below are approved to be taught in Winter 2007 and Spring 2008; however, some (or all) may not be offered in either term.  The courses that are offered in Spring link to the Schedule of Classes.  Classes with alternative delivery modes (Web based, cable TV, correspondence, etc) are noted in the Schedule at the section level.  The complete list below is a good indicator of what may be offered over the next few years (contact department about offerings).  For explanations of course elements see the Key to Course Descriptions.

Neuroscience (NRSC)  Department Info

NRSC 195C -- Field Guide to the Injured Brain  (1 unit)
Description:  The course will provide an overview of the biology of the most complex object in the known universe and will explore recent exciting advances in our understanding of brain injury and repair. Includes a community component in which students explore the consequences of brain injury with people who have sustained an injury as well as with family, teachers, and health professionals who care for them.  This is a First-Year Colloquium Course.
Grading:  Regular or alternative grades can be awarded for this course: A B C D E or S P C D E.
Course includes 1 or more field trips.
Usually offered:  Spring.

NRSC 195H -- Honors Colloquium  (1 unit)
Description:  Introduction to the multidisciplinary field of neuroscience and to scientific ways of knowing and the methods and standards for discovering new knowledge.  This is a First-Year Colloquium Course.
Grading:  Regular or alternative grades can be awarded for this course: A B C D E or S P C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  limited to honors freshman.
Usually offered:  Fall.

NRSC 282 -- Biology of Sensation  (3 units)
Description:  Touch, hearing, vision, olfaction and taste are examined to illustrate scientific methods in biology, development of science in a social context and sensory phenomena in health and disease.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  two courses from Tier One, Natural Sciences (NATS 101, 102, 104).
Approved as:  General Education Tier Two - Natural Sciences.
Identical to:  SP H 282.
Usually offered:  Fall.

NRSC 381 -- Animal Brains, Signals, Sex, and Social Behaviors  (3 units)
Description:  To introduce the relationship between the functional organization of brains and signals in the animal world that elicit brain function resulting in behavior actions. The course will provide students with an appreciation of strategies used to observe, analyze, and study brain organization, relating this to the study of animal behavior, particularly those behaviors involving social and sexual interactions within a species.  This is a Writing Emphasis Course.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  satisfaction of the Mid-Career Writing Assessment (MCWA) or the former upper-division writing proficiency requirement (UDWPE); Two Tier Two natural sciences courses.
Identical to:  ECOL 381, ENTO 381.
Usually offered:  Spring.

NRSC 392A -- Directed Research in Neuroscience  (1-6 units)
Description:  Individual or small group research under the guidance of faculty.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
May be repeated:  for a total of 12 units of credit.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 399 -- Independent Study  (1-3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 399H -- Honors Independent Study  (1-3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 407 -- Neurobiology  (4 units)
Description:  Cellular, molecular and developmental biology of nerve cells, synapses and neural systems.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  MCB 410 or equivalent, MCB 181R, MCB 181L, MCB 182 R and MCB 182L.
Identical to:  MCB 407; MCB is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall.

NRSC 444A -- Computational Cognitive Neuroscience  (4 units)
Description:  This course introduces you to the field of computational cognitive neuroscience for understanding how the brain secretes the mind. We focus on simulations of cognitive and perceptual processes, using neural network models that bridge the gap between biology and behavior. We first consider the basic biological and computational properties of individual neurons and networks of neurons, followed by learning mechanisms that allow networks to be adaptive and to perform reasonably complex tasks. We examine a range of cognitive phenomena within this framework, including attention, memory, language and higher-level cognition. The class includes a lab component in which students get hands on experience with graphical neural network software (no programming experience needed), allowing deeper, more intuitive appreciation for how these systems work.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  INDV 101, PSYC 302, PSYC 325.
Typical structure:  3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory.
Identical to:  PSYC 444A; PSYC is home department.
May be convened with:  NRSC 544A.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

NRSC 464 -- Neurophysiology: Sensorimotor Perspective  (3 units)
Description:  Focuses on mammalian sensorimotor system as a model system to understand principles of neural communication, sensory functions, information processing, and production of behavioral responses.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  PSIO 201, PSIO 202, MATH 111, PHYS 102, PHYS 103.
Identical to:  PSIO 464; PSIO is home department.
May be convened with:  NRSC 564.
Usually offered:  Spring.

NRSC 492A -- Directed Research in Neuroscience  (1-6 units)
Description:  Individual or small group research under the guidance of faculty.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
May be repeated:  for a total of 12 units of credit.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 494 -- Practicum  (1-6 units)
Description:  The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

NRSC 498 -- Senior Capstone  (1-3 units)
Description:  A culminating experience for majors involving a substantive project that demonstrates a synthesis of learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. Senior standing required.
Grading:  Regular or alternative grades can be awarded for this course: A B C D E or S P C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

NRSC 498H -- Honors Thesis  (3 units)
Description:  An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 1 time (maximum 2 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

NRSC 499 -- Independent Study  (1-3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 499H -- Honors Independent Study  (1-3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 502 -- Principles of Neuroanatomy  (4 units)
Description:  Cellular elements and recognized subsystems of the mammalian nervous system, with emphasis on general principles of neuroanatomical organization and their functional significance.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  8 units of biological laboratory science, CBA 401; PSYC 302, PSIO 480 desirable. Consent of instructor.
Identical to:  PSYC 502; PSYC is home department.
Usually offered:  Spring.

NRSC 506 -- Neural Encoding: Memory and Comprehension of Mammals  (3 units)
Description:  Theoretical principles and biological mechanisms by which information is represented, categorized, stored, and recalled in specific central nervous system (CNS) circuits in the course of adaptive behavior. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a single aspect of neural encoding.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  PSYC 507B.
Identical to:  PSYC 506; PSYC is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall.

NRSC 524 -- Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Perspective  (3 units)
Description:  Biological, psychological, and social issues in aging, including brain changes with age, cognitive change with age, and the social impact of increasingly older population demographics. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a single aspect of gerontology.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  PSYC 524; PSYC is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall.

NRSC 530 -- Neural Basis of Language  (3 units)
Description:  The neural basis of language comprehension and production, with reference to its relationship to other perceptual, cognitive and motor skills.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  graduate status.
Identical to:  PSYC 530; PSYC is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall.

NRSC 544A -- Computational Cognitive Neuroscience  (4 units)
Description:  This course introduces you to the field of computational cognitive neuroscience for understanding how the brain secretes the mind. We focus on simulations of cognitive and perceptual processes, using neural network models that bridge the gap between biology and behavior. We first consider the basic biological and computational properties of individual neurons and networks of neurons, followed by learning mechanisms that allow networks to be adaptive and to perform reasonably complex tasks. We examine a range of cognitive phenomena within this framework, including attention, memory, language and higher-level cognition. The class includes a lab component in which students get hands on experience with graphical neural network software (no programming experience needed), allowing deeper, more intuitive appreciation for how these systems work. Graduate-level requirements include graduate students to work by themselves for the final project, and generate a new model from scratch to answer their question. They will be responsible for more homework questions.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Typical structure:  3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory.
Identical to:  PSYC 544A; PSYC is home department.
May be convened with:  NRSC 444A.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

NRSC 564 -- Neurophysiology: Sensorimotor Perspective  (3 units)
Description:  Focuses on mammalian sensorimotor system as a model system to understand principles of neural communication, sensory functions, information processing, and production of behavioral responses. Graduate-level requirements include a research paper.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  PSIO 564; PSIO is home department.
May be convened with:  NRSC 464.
Usually offered:  Spring.

NRSC 588 -- Principles of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology  (4 units)
Description:  Detailed introduction to the biology of nerve cells, emphasizing cellular neurophysiology, synaptic mechanisms, and analysis of neural development.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  consult program office before enrolling.
Identical to:  CBA 588, MCB 588, BIOC 588, INSC 588, PSIO 588.
Usually offered:  Fall.

NRSC 589 -- Selected Topics in Systems Neurobiology  (3 units)
Description:  In-depth discussion of exemplary topics explaining the organization, physiology, and function of neural systems, emphasizing sensory systems, motor control, integration, and plasticity.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  NRSC 588; consult program office before enrolling.
Identical to:  CBA 589, INSC 589, PSIO 589.
Usually offered:  Spring.

NRSC 594 -- Practicum  (1-6 units)
Description:  The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

NRSC 595B -- Scientific Writing Strategies, Skills and Ethics  (2 units)
Description:  Provide students with skills to write/communicate effectively for a variety of scientific audiences; including scientific journals, funding institutions, potential employers as well as administration in academia and industry.
Grading:  Regular or alternative grades can be awarded for this course: A B C D E or S P C D E.
Identical to:  PHCL 595B; PHCL is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall.

NRSC 597H -- HUMAN NEUROANATOMY  (1 unit)
Description:  This course provides an overview of the gross and sectional anatomy of the human brain and is designed to complement Psychology 502, Principles of Neuroanatomy.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  or Concurrent registration, PSYC 502.
Identical to:  PSYC 597H; PSYC is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

NRSC 599 -- Independent Study  (1-6 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. Graduate students doing independent work which cannot be classified as actual research will register for credit under course number 599, 699, or 799.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 625 -- Human Neuroscience  (6 units)
Description:  Functional and morphological organization of the human central nervous system.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  consent of instructor.
Identical to:  MED 625; MED is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

NRSC 653 -- Neuropharmacology/Drugs of Abuse  (3 units)
Description:  Role of various neurochemicals in the peripheral and central nervous systems and the effects of drugs on the nervous system, including their actions at receptors and their influence on synthesis, storage, and release of neurotransmitters.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  PHCL 653; PHCL is home department.
Usually offered:  Spring.

NRSC 695A -- Motor Control  (2 units)
Description:  contact department.
Grading:  Regular or alternative grades can be awarded for this course: A B C D E or S P C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 3 times (maximum 4 enrollments).
Identical to:  PSIO 695A; PSIO is home department.
Usually offered:  Spring.

NRSC 695B -- Neuroscience Colloquium  (1 unit)
Description:  Development and exchange of scholarly information through discussion of published and on-going research. Topics of the colloquium will have novel, significant, controversial, and/or far-reaching implications that are of general interest and cover the breath of neuroscience including molecular, cellular, systems and cognitive neuroscience.
Grading:  Regular or alternative grades can be awarded for this course: A B C D E or S P C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 1 time (maximum 2 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

NRSC 695C -- Neuroscience Colloquium  (1 unit)
Description:  Development and exchange of scholarly information through discussion of published and on-going research. Topics of the colloquium will include lectures from visiting scholars and research reports from advanced graduate students and will include molecular, cellular, systems and cognitive neuroscience.
Grading:  Regular or alternative grades can be awarded for this course: A B C D E or S P C D E.
May be repeated:  for a total of 12 units of credit.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

NRSC 695E -- Science, Society, and Ethics  (1 unit)
Description:  Practical colloquium focusing on ethical issues raised in the research laboratory setting.
Grading:  Regular or alternative grades can be awarded for this course: A B C D E or S P C D E.
Identical to:  MCB 695E; MCB is home department.
Usually offered:  Spring.

NRSC 699 -- Independent Study  (1-6 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. Graduate students doing independent work which cannot be classified as actual research will register for credit under course number 599, 699, or 799.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 700 -- Methods in Neuroscience  (1-4 units)
Description:  Research rotations in the laboratories of faculty members within the neuroscience program.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  consult neuroscience program office before enrolling.
May be repeated:  for a total of 12 units of credit.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 701 -- Communication in Neuroscience  (2 units)
Description:  Preparation of an essay, and instruction in scientific writing.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  contact neuroscience program office before enrolling. Open to majors only.
Usually offered:  Spring.

NRSC 900 -- Research  (1-8 units)
Description:  Individual research, not related to thesis or dissertation preparation, by graduate students.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E K.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 910 -- Thesis  (1-8 units)
Description:  Research for the master's thesis (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or thesis writing). Maximum total credit permitted varies with the major department.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P E K.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 920 -- Dissertation  (1-9 units)
Description:  Research for the doctoral dissertation (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or dissertation writing).
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P E K.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

NRSC 930 -- Supplementary Registration  (1-9 units)
Description:  For students who have completed all course requirements for their advanced degree programs. May be used concurrently with other enrollments to bring to total number of units to the required minimum.
Grading:  Grade of K is awarded for this course except for the final term.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.