Section II-1 – Descriptions of Neuroscience Courses

NEUR 110 .5 cr.

Neuroscience Lab Rotations

Through directed readings and laboratory visits, this course will expose students to neuroscience-related research currently underway at The University of Scranton. Various faculty will demonstrate research activities in their labs while assigning readings and discussing current/future research plans. The course is graded pass/fail.

NEUR 111 1 cr.

Neuroscience Lab Rotations

Guided by several faculty involved in the Neuroscience Program, students will read and discuss current ground breaking research in the field. The course is graded pass/fail.

NEUR 339 3 cr.

Psychopharmacology

(Prerequisite: Grade of C or higher in Neur 231) This course will survey the field of psychopharmacology with particular attention being paid to functional neuoranatomy, the important role of behavioral science, and the neuropharmacology of normal/abnormal behaviors. Numerous research strategies will be examined including: dose response functions, therapeutic indices, routes of administration, and pharmacological/behavioral models of clinical conditions. (Also listed as PSYC 339.)

NEUR 231/L – Behavioral Neuroscience

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110 – Fundamentals of Psychology, BIOL 141-142 – General Biology)

Introduction to the field of neuroscience, examining the cellular bases of behavior, effects of drugs and behavior, brain/body correlates of motivation and emotion, and neural changes accompanying pathology. Three hours lecture and optional 1.5-credit laboratory. Lab fee; lab offered fall only.

NEUR 330L – Research Methods Lab (NEUR)

(Prerequisite: BIOL 348 – Functional Neuroanatomy, or BIOL 358 – Cellular/Molecular Neurobiology, or NEUR 231 – Behavioral Neuroscience)

This lab will expose students to an array of research technologies, strategies and data analysis techniques related to the field of neuroscience. Primary literature relevant to laboratory exercises will be read and incorporated into lab reports and proposals.

NEUR 348 – Functional Neuroanatomy

(Prerequisite: BIOL 245 – General Physiology, or, for Neuroscience majors, PSYC 231 – Behavioral Neuroscience)

Study of the organization and function of the neuron, neural circuits and the major sensory and motor components of the central nervous system; bioelectric phenomena, synaptic transmission; the neural basis for higher functions such as cognition, memory, and learning. Three hours lecture; three hours lab.

NEUR 358 – Cellular/Molecular Neurobiology

(Prerequisites: BIOL 141-142 – General Biology)

Introduces Biology and Neuroscience majors to the cellular and molecular biology of the vertebrate nervous system. Includes ion channel structure and function, synthesis, packaging and release of neurotransmitters, receptor and transduction mechanisms, intracellular signaling, cell-to-cell communication, glial cell function, and neural growth and development. Three hours lecture.

NEUR 384 – Special Topics in Neuroscience

(Prerequisites: BIOL 141-142 – General Biology, PSYC 231 – Behavioral Neuroscience)

Course topics are developed by individual faculty to provide in-depth coverage of specific areas in neuroscience. Some courses have required or elective laboratory components. Course titles and descriptions will be provided in advance of registration.

NEUR 384 – Special Topics: Psychopharmacology

(Prerequisites: PSYC 231 – Behavioral Neuroscience, BIOL 245 – General Physiology)

This course will provide a broad survey of the field of psychopharmacology. Particular attention will be paid both to the important role that behavioral science plays in this field and to the neuropharmacology of normal and abnormal behaviors. Three hours lecture.

NEUR 493 – Undergraduate Research in Neuroscience

(Prerequisites: BIOL 141-142 – General Biology, PSYC 231 – Behavioral Neuroscience, PSYC 330 – Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences or NEUR 330L – Neuroscience Research Methods Lab, and permission of instructor)

Individual study and research on a specific topic relevant to neuroscience under the supervision of a faculty member. It is strongly recommended that this research be initiated during the junior year, and it is expected that the research will extend over a two-semester period.

BIOL 350 – Cellular Biology

(Prerequisites: BIOL 141-142 – General Biology; requires concurrent enrollment in lecture and lab)

Study of structure and function in eukaryotic cells. Emphasis on biomolecules, cell organelles, cell motility, signaling, and cell physiology. The cellular basis of human physiology and disease will also be discussed. Labs focus on experimental studies of cellular structure and function using techniques of modern cell biology. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Lab fulfills a writing-intensive (W) requirement.

NEUR 444 – Sensory Biology

(Prerequisites: BIO: 245 – General Physiology and completion of or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 121/141 – General Physics)

The course applies multidisciplinary approaches to the study of senses: physics of stimuli, anatomy of receptor organs, neurophysiology of receptor cells, anatomy and central processing, animal behavior, and artificial sensor design. The course focuses on terrestrial vertebrates with occasional discussions on aquatic sensory systems. Three hours lecture.

PSYC 230 – Sensation and Perception

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110 – Fundamentals of Psychology)

Concerns the study of sensory mechanisms and perceptual phenomena. Optional lab entails supervised individual experimentation. Lecture, 3 credits; optional 1-credit laboratory. Lab fee; lab offered only in spring.

PSYC 235 – Conditioning and Learning

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110 – Fundamentals of Psychology)

Concerns the experimental study of both classical and instrumental conditioning. Optional lab involves supervised animal and human experimentation. Lecture, 3 credits; optional 1-credit laboratory. Lab fee; spring only.