AS.080 (Neuroscience) < Johns Hopkins University

AS.080.140. Neuroscience and Human Behavior. 1 Credit.

Consider how behavioral neuroscience can help you understand these curiosities and more: a native Australian man suffers a stroke, recovers, but can only speak Chinese; altering but one neural receptor in the prairie vole will change it from a monogamous to polygamous animal; neurodegenerative disease can cause fits of uncontrollable laughter, despite nothing being funny. Learn how cells and chemicals result in complex behavior and critically examine whether or not the mind is an organic computer in this behavioral neuroscience program.

AS.080.160. Neurobiology: Cellular & Systems. 1 Credit.

Establish a foundation for advanced study of neuroscience in research and medicine. Your curriculum will cover university-level cellular, network, and behavioral neurobiology using engaging evidence-based educational models that encourage enthusiasm and uninhibited critical thought. Additional emphasis will be placed on familiarizing you with the laboratory and research methods useful in a scientific career. There are no prerequisites, but a background in biology is helpful.

AS.080.234. How to Give a Scientific Talk. 3 Credits.

The goal of this course is to teach participants how to give clear and concise scientific talks. Students will have to have at least 1 year of research experience in a neuroscience-related lab. Each student will give presentations on their own data as well as on published literature.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.250. Neuroscience Laboratory. 3 Credits.

This course will give students the "hands-on" experience of the inter-disciplinary nature of neuroscience. Students will use anatomical and neuro-physiological techniques to understand the basic underlying principles of neuroscience.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306 OR AS.200.141

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.301. Behavioral Assessment of Animal Models of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders. 3 Credits.

What does a rat exploring it's environment tell us about memory? How can a mouse help us better understand schizophrenia? This course will focus on procedures that are routinely used to study behavior in animal models of cognition and neuropsychiatric disorders. Topics will include motor function, emotional and motivational states, disorders such as dementia and schizophrenia, among others. Throughout the course, we will read and discuss original research articles to illustrate and compare some of the measures and results from the various procedures.

Prerequisite(s): AS.200.141 OR AS.050.105 OR AS.080.306 OR instructor permission.

Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences

AS.080.303. Structure of the Nervous System. 3 Credits.

This course takes a structural biological approach to studying the nervous system. In using a systems approach it provides students of cellular-molecular and computational neuroscience with a thorough introduction to functional, microscopic and submicroscopic organization of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.304. Neuroscience Learning and Memory. 3 Credits.

This course is an advanced survey of the scientific study of learning and memory. Different perspectives will be used to review the science of learning and memory including the cellular-molecular basis of synaptic plasticity, the functional circuitry involved in learning and memory and memory systems in the brain. The course is designed to provide a deep understanding of the issues and current debates in learning and memory research and focuses specifically on animal models of memory and memory impairment. This is an interactive lecture course with a strong emphasis on student participation.

Prerequisite(s): AS.200.141 OR AS.080.306 OR (AS.020.312 AND AS.020.306) or instructor permission.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.305. Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems I. 3 Credits.

(Formerly Nervous Systems I) Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems I is a fully integrated, two-semester course that surveys the cellular and molecular biology of neurons as well as the structure and function of the nervous system. Students must register for Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems II offered in the second term. Course open to JHU undergraduates only.

Prerequisite(s): AS.050.203 OR AS.200.141 OR AS.080.105 OR AS.050.105 or instructor permission.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.306. Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems II. 3 Credits.

(Formerly Nervous Systems II) Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems II uses the functional organization of the somatosensory system as a means to examine mechanisms of neutral development. Generation and maturation of neurons, guidance of axons, formation of synapses and the regressive events that shape the adult nervous system will be examined. At the same time we will explore the structure and function of brain regions that allow us to feel pain and temperature, detect vibration, recognize shape and perceive where we are in space. Finally, the single-neuron events that lead to adaptive changes in function will be explored in the context of central nervous system control of movement and of higher order functions of speech and memory. Students who do not register for Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems I offered during the first term should not register for this class.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.305

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.308. Neuroeconomics. 3 Credits.

Every day decisions often require us to weigh the costs and benefits of engaging in a particular course of action in order to obtain some expected outcome. Unfortunately, we often lack the information necessary to obtain our desired goal with complete certainty. Economists have long been interested in understanding human decision-making under these circumstances. In parallel, neuroscientists have made great strides at describing the underlying neural basis of simple decision-making. However, despite much progress in both fields, our understanding of how the brain makes decisions is incomplete. In order to strengthen and further research in both fields, the interdisciplinary field of Neuroeconomics arose. This course will survey the field of Neuroeconomics focusing on theoretical concepts developed by economists and the role these theories are playing in guiding current experimental neuroscience.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306 OR AS.200.141 OR AS.020.312

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.310. Synaptic Function and Plasticity. 3 Credits.

The function of the nervous system is based on synaptic transmission between neurons. Synapses are not static structures, but dynamically change with experience. Experience-dependent synaptic plasticity not only allows proper development of the nervous system in tune with the environment, but also is the basis for learning and memory. This course will cover the structure and function of synapses, and how they are altered by experience to encode information.

Prerequisite(s): (AS.020.305 AND AS.020.306) OR AS.080.306

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.314. How to Live a SPECtacular Life. 3 Credits.

Good mental health is key to living a happy and healthy life. This statement is true whether you are an elementary, middle, high school, or college student. It is also true if you are a recent graduate in the work force, middle aged, retired or elderly. According to the literature, to achieve good mental health you need to focus on the role that the brain plays in our Social, Physical, Emotional and Cognitive (SPEC) health. These are four key components needed to achieve and maintain good mental health. The main focus of the course will be mental health. Using the research, we will come up with tools to help educate individuals, at any point in their lifespan, on how to live a SPECtacular life.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306

Area: Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Writing Intensive

AS.080.316. Prefrontal Cortex- Computational Models and Neurophysiology. 3 Credits.

The course will cover the function of the prefrontal cortex. We will discuss various computational models of prefrontal function and neurobiological evidence for these models. The class will consist of lectures, student presentations, and discussions.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306 or Instructor Permission.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.321. Computational Neuroscience. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to give students an overview of computational neuroscience. The topics discussed will cover many exciting domains of the field including neural coding, decision-making, learning, attention and connectomics. Lectures will be complemented with hands on experience working with computational models using Matlab and/or other programming language. The overarching goal of the course is to increase overall literacy in the field of computational neuroscience and to gain an appreciation of the interplay between experimental and theoretical neuroscience.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306 OR AS.200.141. Familiarity with programing in Matlab will be helpful but not necessary.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.326. Neurobiology and Diseases of the Peripheral Nervous System. 3 Credits.

This course will cover neurobiology and disorders of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). A particular emphasis will be on cellular interactions within the PNS and with target tissues. For example, the two principal components of the peripheral nerves- axons and Schwann cells- have intimate and continuous cellular communications that are critical for physiological function of the PNS. The course will teach how these cellular interactions are developed, maintained throughout life, and are impacted by injury and diseases.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.328. Behavioral Neuroscience Lab. 3 Credits.

Class designed to give students first-hand knowledge of the behavioral procedures and techniques used to study behavior in the field of neuroscience. Students will gain hands-on experience by carrying out some of the behavioral tasks used to assess animals under specific behavioral domains, discuss why certain aspects (i.e. genotype, environment conditions, group size, etc.) are important factors to consider when designing, planning, and carrying out such experiments, and learn the relevance of behavioral research in translational medicine.

Prerequisite(s): AS.200.141 OR AS.200.302 OR AS.080.301 OR AS.080.306 or permission by instructor.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.329. Current Topics in Peripheral Neuropathies and Nerve Diseases. 3 Credits.

This writing intensive course is designed to teach in depth understanding/critiquing and writing about current papers in peripheral nerves & neuropathies. Students will be assigned 10-12 current papers throughout the course, and will be tasked to write two reports for each paper, one for scientific community and other for general public, with emphasis on writing scientifically accurate summaries/critiques for both the specialists in the field and the general public. Students will be asked to submit drafts of their writings and get feedbacks on weekly basis.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.326 OR permission of instructor

Area: Engineering, Natural Sciences

Writing Intensive

AS.080.334. Unraveling Circuits in Systems Neuroscience- Emerging Techniques. 3 Credits.

Rapid technological development in neuroscience provides researchers with new tools and strategies to ask important questions about the neural basis of behavior. In this course, we will examine some of these emerging techniques, along with a sampling of the questions they have allowed scientists to answer. We will consider the conceptual insights that arise from answering these questions, as well as investigate the fundamental science behind the cutting-edge techniques that allow us to understand brain function in health and disease.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306 or Instructor Approval

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.336. Brain-Body Interactions in Health and Disease. 3 Credits.

Both classical and recent primary research papers that deal with cross signaling of other major organs with the nervous system, particularly the central nervous system, will be discussed. Students will be exposed to emerging literature on how peptides, signaling molecules, and hormones effect the nervous system function both in health and in diseases.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.337. Drug Discovery Research for Neurological Disorders. 3 Credits.

This course examines how drugs to treat neurological disorders are discovered and developed by covering various topics related to drug discovery research including in vitro pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and animal pharmacology. Particular emphasis will be given to the operational aspects and challenges unique to nervous system drug discovery research. Students will gain a broad and practical knowledge of what it takes to develop a new drug to treat patients with neurological and/or psychiatric conditions.

Prerequisite(s): AS.200.141 OR (AS.080.305 AND AS.080.306)

Area: Engineering, Natural Sciences

AS.080.339. Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging. 3 Credits.

When will I start forgetting things? Do I have Alzheimer's disease? What can I do to minimize the chances I experience cognitive decline with aging? This class will spend a significant amount of time exploring the answers to all of these questions and many more. We will review basic information about cognitive neuroscience techniques such as fMRI, DTI, PET, and EEG and explore how aging changes the brain. The heart of the class will be about cognitive changes with aging with a focus on attention, executive function, memory, and emotion. The class will end with discussions about Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease as well as lifestyle choices that increase/decrease the chances of healthy aging.

Prerequisite(s): AS.200.141 OR AS.080.306

Area: Natural Sciences

Writing Intensive

AS.080.345. Great Discoveries in Neuroscience. 3 Credits.

This course examines the historical and intellectual context of selected, key advances in neuroscience, how they were made and the impact they had on an understanding of the nervous system. Particular attention will be paid to advances in cellular and molecular neuroscience. Among the topics covered will be the discovery of monoamine neurotransmitters and of endocannabinoids, the role of neurotrophins in neural development, and prion-based diseases of the brain.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.349. Neural Oscillations, Cognition and Disease. 3 Credits.

Neural oscillations are a ubiquitous finding in the brain during both waking behavior and during sleep and play important roles in supporting cognition. In particular, neural oscillations in the theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency have been linked to attention, memory, and executive function. Critically, changes in neural oscillations are related to neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and learning disabilities. Changes in oscillations have also been associated with mood disorders, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In this class we will explore through a combination of lectures and seminar-based discussion how we typically measure neural oscillations, theories exploring how brain oscillations support cognitive processing, and how different disease states change brain oscillations and what those changes may mean for cognitive processing.

Prerequisite(s): AS.200.141 OR AS.050.203 OR AS.080.306

Area: Natural Sciences

Writing Intensive

AS.080.355. Computational Principles of Biological Vision. 3 Credits.

Even though we take it for granted, vision is a superpower. It is so central to how most of us interact with the world, and so effortless, that we are unaware of the astronomically complex computations that underlie it. There are no computer vision programs that can match the performance of the human visual system in understanding the real, physical, 3D world. On the biological side, vision is the most thoroughly studied sensory system. As such, vision is a rich target for computational understanding of the brain. Vision is the topic that both of us actively study, and remain passionately excited about. In this course, we present our up-to-the-minute synthesis of what we consider to be the most important insights into how vision, especially object vision, works, at the level of biological information processing. We believe the result is a coherent, mechanistic account of how the brain transforms images into visual understanding. We know of no textbook that provides a comparable viewpoint. In addition to presenting this visual information processing framework, we hope to teach you how to critically evaluate current research papers within that framework. To this end, we will be incorporating discussions of current research papers into our lectures and assignments. The course will feature a series of weekly lectures (delivered as videos) and a weekly assignment. The weekly assignment will be an essay, and will make up the largest portion of your grade. The remainder of your grade will come from one larger final essay. We will offer 2 weekly, voluntary Zoom meetings to discuss any questions about the material that might have come up.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.360. Diseases & Disorders of the Nervous System. 3 Credits.

This class will use lectures, readings and filmed clinical examinations to present an overview of the causes and treatments of diseases and disorders of the nervous system. We will begin with diseases of the peripheral nervous system and proceed in steps to examine the pathophysiology of a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders that impact the central nervous system.

Prerequisite(s): (AS.020.305 AND AS.020.306) OR AS.080.306 or instructor permission.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.366. Neuroscience of Pain. 3 Credits.

This course is a systems-oriented course focusing on the basic neural processing of pain signals in both the spinal cord and the brain. Class lectures will cover the anatomical and molecular basis for the transmission and perception of pain signals, basic concepts such as allodynia, hyperalgesia, peripheral and central sensitization, remodeling, the pathophysiology of chronic pain disorders and the cognitive and emotional aspects of pain. We will also discuss the regulation of pain signals by descending systems, and current practices and new advances in the treatment of pain.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.305 OR AS.020.312 or permission of instructor.

Area: Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Writing Intensive

AS.080.370. The Cerebellum: Is it just for motor control?. 3 Credits.

The cerebellum is traditionally thought to be involved in movement and motor control, and observations of patients with cerebellar damage do in fact show motor deficits. However, since the proliferation of functional MRI, cerebellar activations have been observed in a surprising number of brain activation studies that were designed to investigate the neural correlates of cognitive function. Over the past 2 decades, an increasing number of investigators have tried to characterize the role of the cerebellum in cognitive function. Through lectures and reading discussions this course will survey cerebellar circuitry, neuroimaging and neuromodulatory methods for investigating the cerebellum, and traditional and non-traditional functions of the cerebellum, including cerebellar involvement in cognitive functions such as language, working memory, and executive control.

Prerequisite(s): AS.080.306 OR AS.050.203

Area: Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences

AS.080.401. Experiential Learning: KEEN (Kids Enjoying Exercise Now). 1 Credit.

In this experiential learning, we partner with KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now), a nonprofit organization. Students will work with children and young adults who have a variety of neurological disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome through exercise and recreational activities. Students will receive initial training at the mandatory orientation and then select 4 required sessions to attend. Sessions are held on selected Sundays during the semester at a KEEN center in Maryland. Student “coaches” will receive a profile for the KEEN athlete that they will pair up with during a session. Students MUST attend a mandatory orientation and a mandatory exit session held on the Homewood campus (see section web notes for days/times). Students are required to complete the Training on the Safety of Children in University Programs, as well as register to volunteer via the KEEN website, instructions to follow. Students are required to submit a written description of their experiences and to discuss their experiences at the exit session. Transportation will be via student carpools using Zipcars, personal vehicles or Hop Vans. S/U Grading Only

AS.080.402. Experiential Learning: Making Neuroscience Fun: Focus on Brain (Mental) Health. 1 Credit.

The goal of Making Neuroscience Fun (MNF), a community outreach program, is to educate Baltimore city and county elementary school students, on how to achieve good mental health by focusing on the role the brain plays in our Social, Physical, Emotional and Cognitive (SPEC) health. The MNF-Brain Health: It’s SPECtacular program focuses on using scientific research as the foundation for developing information about brain (mental) health and relaying the information in an age-appropriate manner. In order to participate, JHU students must be available for a 3 hours block of time at least one day per week, Monday-Friday. Students MUST attend a mandatory orientation and a mandatory exit session held on the Homewood campus (TBD). Transportation to the schools will be via the Hopkins Shuttle. S/U Grading Only

AS.080.404. Experiential Learning: Helping an Aging Community: Social and Cognitive Support for Seniors. 1 Credit.

This experiential learning opportunity provides a hands-on experience, working side-by-side with elderly individuals at the Roland Park Place. Students will have a chance to interact with residents that have both short-term and long-term cognitive and physical impairments. The residents typically live on the premises but may also be participating in a daytime care only program. Students will interact with the residents in various enriching ways in order to develop a better understanding of how our mind and body ages with time. Students will gain hands-on experience working with residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other cognitive impairments that effect the body and the brain. Students MUST attend a mandatory orientation and a mandatory exit session (see Section Web Notes for dates/times). Students are required to provide a written description of their experiences and to discuss their experiences at the exit session. Time Commitment: a minimum of five (1-2 hours) visits during the semester. Visits must be planned out with the Roland Park Place’s staff by the 2nd week of the semester and must be documented on the Google Doc, to be sent out after the orientation. Students will be sent an application packet, which must be filled out and returned prior to the start of the semester. Students must provide updated medical immunization records to include - flu shot, COVID-19 and PPD (tuberculosis). Background check required. Transportation will be provided by the JHMI shuttle. S/U Grading Only

AS.080.411. Advanced Seminar: Neuroscience I. 3 Credits.

For students in the first semester of the BS/MS Program. Instructor permission required.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.412. Advanced Seminar: Neuroscience II. 3 Credits.

For students in the 2nd semester of the BS/MS Program. Permission Required.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.413. Advanced Seminar: Neuroscience III. 3 Credits.

For students in the 3rd semester of the BS/MS Program. Permission Required.

Area: Natural Sciences

AS.080.499. Scientific Communication and Mentoring. 1 Credit.

Scientific communication is crucial to encouraging engagement with the public and advancing science. This course is divided into two components, scientific communication and mentoring. The scientific communications part of the course consists of a research orientation session held at the beginning of the semester and an exit session held at the end of the semester. Students will learn the skills necessary to communicate complex scientific concepts to a broad non-science audience. The mentoring part of the course will consist of group discussions about topics related to career planning and life design. Students need to complete two semesters of Scientific Communication and Mentoring. Students are strongly encouraged to only take this course when they are either actively involved in research or have completed at least three credits of research.*SEE SPECIAL NOTES SECTION FOR MANDATORY MEETINGS DAYS/TIMES

AS.080.505. Practicum in Language Disorders- Community Based Learning. 2 Credits.

This course provides the opportunity to learn about adult aphasias, language disorders which are one of the most common consequences of stroke. You will receive training in supportive communication techniques and work as a communication partner with an individual with aphasia for two hours per week. Three class meetings for orientation and reading assignments will be held on campus; training and practicum will be conducted at a local aphasia support center. Independent mode of transportation required. Co-listed as AS.050.500 in Cognitive Science. Find out more about the practicum site at https://www.leagueforpeople.org/scale.

Prerequisite(s): You must request Independent Academic Work using the Independent Academic Work form found in Student Self-Service: Registration, Online Forms.;Students must have earned an A- or Better in AS.050.105 OR AS.050.203 OR AS.050.311, or obtain instructor's permission.

Area: Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences

AS.080.511. Independent Study. 1 - 3 Credits.

This course is reserved for students involved in research projects that may not be covered by the typical neuroscience research course options. Students must consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Trageser prior to registration.