Course Descriptions

Course descriptions

(Updated: 11/29/18)

The Schedule of Classes posts course descriptions for all departments here.

NEUROSCIENCE LOWER DIVISION COURSES

10. Brain Made Simple: Neuroscience for 21st Century (4)
Lecture, four hours. Preparation: high school background in either biology or chemistry. Not open for credit to students with credit for course M101A (or Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M175A or Physiological Science M180A or Psychology M117A) or Physiological Science 111A or Psychology 115. General overview and introduction to most exciting and fundamental topics encompassing field of neuroscience. P/NP or letter grading.

19. Fiat Lux Freshman Seminars (1)
Seminar, one hour. Discussion of and critical thinking about topics of current intellectual importance, taught by faculty members in their areas of expertise and illuminating many paths of discovery at UCLA. P/NP grading.

89. Honors Seminars (1)
Seminar, three hours. Limited to 20 students. Designed as adjunct to lower division lecture course. Exploration of topics in greater depth through supplemental readings, papers, or other activities and led by lecture course instructor. May be applied toward honors credit for eligible students. Honors content noted on transcript. P/NP or letter grading.

89HC. Honors Contracts (1)
Tutorial, three hours. Limited to students in College Honors Program. Designed as adjunct to lower division lecture course. Individual study with lecture course instructor to explore topics in greater depth through supplemental readings, papers, or other activities. May be repeated for maximum of 4 units. Individual honors contract required. Honors content noted on transcript. Letter grading.

99. Student Research Program (1 to 2)
Tutorial (supervised research or other scholarly work), three hours per week per unit. Entry-level research for lower division students under guidance of faculty mentor. Students must be in good academic standing and enrolled in minimum of 12 units (excluding this course). Individual contract required; consult Undergraduate Research Center. May be repeated. P/NP grading.

NEUROSCIENCE UPPER DIVISION COURSES

M101A. Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind -- Cellular and Systems Neuroscience (5)
(Same as Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M175A, Physiological Science M180A, and Psychology M117A.) Lecture, four hours; discussion, 90 minutes. Requisites: Chemistry 14C or 30A (14C may be taken concurrently), Life Sciences 2 or 7C, Physics 1B or 1BH or 5C or 6B. Not open for credit to students with credit for Physiological Science 111A. For Neuroscience and Physiological Science majors, grade of C- or better is required to proceed to Neuroscience M101B or Physiological Science 111B. Cellular neurophysiology, membrane potential, action potentials, and synaptic transmission. Sensory systems and motor system; how assemblies of neurons process complex information and control movement. P/NP or letter grading.

M101B. Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind -- Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience (5)
(Same as Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M175B, Physiological Science M180B, and Psychology M117B.) Lecture, four hours; discussion, 90 minutes. Requisites: course M101A (or Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M175A or Physiological Science M180A or Psychology M117A; Neuroscience majors must have grade of C- or better) or Physiological Science 111A or Psychology 115, Life Sciences 3, 4 (4 may be taken concurrently). Molecular biology of channels and receptors: focus on voltage dependent channels and neurotransmitter receptors. Molecular biology of supramolecular mechanisms: synaptic transmission, axonal transport, cytoskeleton, and muscle. Classical experiments and modern molecular approaches in developmental neurobiology. P/NP or letter grading.

M101C. Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind -- Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (5)
(Same as Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M175C, Physiological Science M180C, and Psychology M117C.) Lecture, four hours; discussion, 90 minutes. Requisite: course M101A (or Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M175A or Physiological Science M180A or Psychology M117A; Neuroscience majors must have grade of C- or better) or Physiological Science 111A or Psychology 115. Neural mechanisms underlying motivation, learning, and cognition. P/NP or letter grading.

101L. Neuroscience Laboratory (4)
Lecture, two hours; laboratory, three hours. Requisites: courses M101A, M101B (M101B may be taken concurrently). Not open for credit to students with credit for Psychology 116. Introduction to laboratory methods in neuroscience. Laboratory exercises range from molecular and cell biological to behavioral. Hands-on experience with important methodology and experimental approaches in neuroscience. Letter grading.

102. Introduction to Functional Anatomy of Central Nervous System (4)
Lecture, three hours; laboratory, one hour. Enforced requisite: Life Sciences 2. Enforced co-requisite: course M101A. Not open to freshmen. Overview of human nervous system; relation of behavior to higher cognitive function. Development of primate and human brain during past few million years; evolutionary aspects of neuroanatomical structures and effects of behavior and cultural attitudes of modern man. P/NP or letter grading.

M119L. Human Neuropsychology (4)
(Same as Psychology M119L.) Lecture, three hours. Recommended requisites: courses M101A and M101C (or Psychology 115), Psychology 120A or 120B. Designed for juniors/seniors. Survey of experimental and clinical human neuropsychology; neural basis of higher cognitive functions. P/NP or letter grading.

M119N. Visual System (4)
(Same as Psychology M119N.) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course M101A or Physiological Science 111A or Psychology 115. Ability to image and analyze visual world is truly remarkable feat. Coverage of anatomy and physiology of visual processing from retina to visual cortex through lectures, extensive reading, and discussions. P/NP or letter grading.

CM123. Neurobiology of Sleep (4)
(Same as Physiological Science CM123.) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: courses M101A and M101B or Physiological Science 111A and 111B or consent of instructor. Detailed look into science of sleep. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of falling asleep, many discrete brain structures involved in control of sleep wakefulness, and homeostatic regulation of sleep. How our sleep needs shaped by our evolutionary history, age, and gender. Latest insights into question of function of sleep, critical role sleep plays in memory formation and, close association between sleep and metabolism. Sleep disorders are considered as they provide insights into mechanisms underlying sleep. For background on science of sleep and circadian rhythms, completion of Physiological Science C126 is highly recommended. Letter grading.

M139. Perspectives on Autism and Neurodiversity (4)
(Same as Psychology M139). Seminar, three and one half hours. Genealogy of autism as diagnostic category and cultural phenomenon from its historical roots as new, rare, and obscure condition in early 1940s to its current contested status as minority identity and/or global epidemic. Examination of material sourced from various fields and disciplines invested in autism, including psychology, neuroscience, arts and humanities, popular media, anthropology, activism, and critical autism studies. Students encounter and analyze multiple perspectives on autism and put them in conversation with one another. Attention paid to way people on spectrum define, explain, and represent their own experiences of autism and discussion of what ramifications of these multiple framings are in context of autism intervention strategy and disability policy today. Letter grading.

M145. Neural Mechanisms Controlling Movement (5)
(Same as Physiological Science M145.) Lecture, four hours. Requisite: course M101A or Physiological Science 111A or M180A. Examination of central nervous system organization required for production of complex movements such as locomotion, mastication, and swallowing. Letter grading.

M170. Music and Brain (4)
(Same as Music Industry M103.) Seminar, three hours; outside study, nine hours. Multidisciplinary approach to understanding brain mechanisms mediating music perception, performance, and cognition. Students? natural interest in music serves as springboard for learning basic concepts about how brain works. Focus on specific themes such as harmony perception, rhythm perception, emotion and meaning in music, and creativity. Designed to help students understand methodologies currently used to investigate brain-behavior correlates. Broad understanding of research topics in cognitive neuroscience, one of three main subdisciplines of neuroscience; introduction to fundamental principles in neurophysiology, psychophysiology, and neuroanatomy, whose basics form foundation for brain imaging, forensic practice, social psychology research, and marketing research; and specific knowledge about brain mechanisms mediating music-related cognitive and emotional functions. Letter grading.

M176. Auditory Neuroscience of Speech Perception and Vocal Communication (4)
(Same as Physiological Science M176.) Lecture, two and one half hours; discussion, 90 minutes. Requisite: course M101A or Physiological Science 107. Interdisciplinary approach to understanding how humans and other animals communicate emotion and meaning using sound. Weekly research topics in disciplines of systems neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, psychophysics, and psycholinguistics. Emphasis on fundamental principles in neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, psychology, and neurology. Letter grading.

C177. Drugs of Abuse: Translational Neurobiology (4)
Lecture, four hours. Enforced requisite: course M101A. Course ranges from synapse to society. Provides intensive didactic on current neuroscientific basis for understanding substance abuse and blends that material with relevant topics such as epidemiology, co-occurring disorders, treatment options, prevention, and public policies, with emphasis on communication of course materials to general public. Concurrently scheduled with course C277. Letter grading.

178. Human Electroencephalography and Evoked Potentials in Research and Clinical Diagnosis (4)
Seminar, four hours. Enforced requisite: course M101A. Not open for credit to students with credit for course 191A, seminar 1. Emphasis on human electroencephalogram (EEG) and various forms of sensory-evoked potentials. Introduction to number of experimental paradigms that allow for recording of different brain signals from brainstem to cortex. Letter grading.

179. Clinical Neuroscience: New Concepts in Neurological Disorders (4)
Lecture, four hours. Enforced requisite: course M101A. Not open for credit to students with credit for course 191A, seminar 2. Introduction to neurological diseases. Description of diseases from clinical perspective, description of disorder, dealing with clinical population, and discussion of treatments and underlying causes. Mechanisms and new treatments. Letter grading.

180. Genetic, Molecular, and Genomic Approaches to Neural Development and Disease (4)
Seminar, three hours. Enforced requisites: courses M101A, M101B. Not open for credit to students with credit for course 191C, seminar 1. In-depth study of genetic, molecular, and genomic approaches to studying nervous system development and disease. Overview of current technologies used to generate mouse models for genetic and phenotypic analysis. Review of techniques for studying development and disease. Integrative genomic approaches for identifying and characterizing gene(s) involved in these processes. Emphasis on mouse models, but other model organisms considered as well. Letter grading.

181. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Learning and Memory (4)
Seminar, four hours. Enforced requisite: course M101A. Not open for credit to students with credit for course 191C, seminar 2. Cellular models of learning and memory. Genetic and molecular approaches to learning and memory. Learning and memory deficits in neurospsychiatric diseases. LTP and LTD models. Letter grading.

182. Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse (4)
Seminar, four hours. Enforced requisite: course M101A. Not open for credit to students with credit for course 191A, seminar 3. Pharmacology of stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and opioids. Discussion of how drugs interact with central nervous system and produce dependence, addiction, and chronic toxic affects. Letter grading.

186. Neural Stem Cells: Biology, Diseases, and Therapies (4)
Lecture, two and one half hours. Preparation: background in biology and biochemistry. Enforced requisites: courses M101A, M101B. Designed for third- and fourth-year Neuroscience majors. Comprehensive coverage of stem cells of nervous system during development and adulthood, involvement of stem cells in diseases (e.g., brain tumors, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's), and use of stem cells for therapy. P/NP or letter grading.

M187. Neurobiology of Bias and Discrimination (4)
(Same as Psychology M166.) Seminar, three hours; discussion, one hour. Limited to junior/senior neuroscience and psychology students. Exploration of aspects of mammalian brain function that generate preference, bias, and discrimination. Consideration of research at multiple levels of analysis from genetics to neural circuits to behavior. Discussion of societal implications of these research findings, including their relevance to public policies and criminal justice system. Letter grading.

189HC. Honors Contracts (1)
Tutorial, three hours. Limited to students in College Honors Program. Designed as adjunct to upper division lecture course. Individual study with lecture course instructor to explore topics in greater depth through supplemental readings, papers, or other activities. May be repeated for maximum of 4 units. Individual honors contract required. Honors content noted on transcript. Letter grading.

191A. Variable Topics Research Seminars: Neuroscience -- Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (4)
Seminar, three hours. Requisite: course M101A or Physiological Science 111A. Topics on one or more aspects of neuroscience. Reading, discussion, and development of culminating project. May be applied as elective only in specific area of group 2. May be repeated once for credit. P/NP or letter grading.

191B. Variable Topics Research Seminars: Neuroscience -- Systems and Integrative Neuroscience (4)
Seminar, three hours. Requisite: course M101A or Physiological Science 111A. Topics on one or more aspects of neuroscience. Reading, discussion, and development of culminating project. May be applied as elective only in specific area of group 2. May be repeated once for credit. P/NP or letter grading.

191C. Variable Topics Research Seminars: Neuroscience -- Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Neuroscience (4)
Seminar, three hours. Enforced requisite: course M101B. Topics on one or more aspects of neuroscience. Reading, discussion, and development of culminating project. May be applied as elective only in specific area of group 2. May be repeated once for credit. P/NP or letter grading.

191H. Honors Seminars: Neuroscience (4)
Seminar, four hours. Preparation: one statistics course (Statistics 10 or equivalent). Limited to neuroscience honors program students. Instruction in principles of scientific method, ethics, and written and oral communication; critique of current journal articles and research projects. Presentation of individual research. May not be applied toward elective requirements for major. Must be taken during Winter Quarter of academic year that students enroll in courses 198A and 198B. Letter grading.

192A. Practicum in Neuroanatomy for Undergraduate Assistants (2)
(Formerly numbered 192.) Seminar, three hours; laboratory, one hour. Requisites: courses M101A and 102, with grades of A. Limited to senior Neuroscience majors. Training and supervised practicum in neuroanatomy for undergraduate assistants. Students assist faculty members and graduate teaching assistants in laboratory only. May not be applied toward elective requirements and may not be repeated for credit. P/NP or letter grading.

192B. Project Brainstorm: Neuroscience K-12 Outreach (4)
Seminar, one hour; fieldwork, three hours. Limited to juniors/seniors. Course to be supervised by faculty and teaching assistant advisers. Project Brainstorm is K-12 science education outreach program of Brain Research Institute (BRI) and Neuroscience Ph.D. and undergraduate programs that stimulates interest in science for children and young adults in grades K-12 by providing hands-on learning experiences that emphasize function and importance of brain. Students expected to prepare age-appropriate lesson plans to be used in Project Brainstorm classroom visits. Students meet on regular basis with supervisors and provide periodic reports of their experience. May not be applied toward major requirements. May be repeated twice for credit. P/NP grading.

192C. Drug Abuse and Society: Conveying Concepts to High School Students (4)
Seminar, four hours (seven weeks); fieldwork, four hours (three weeks). Enforced requisites: courses M101A, C177. Limited to senior Neuroscience majors. Preparation of students to give accurate, knowledgeable, and age-appropriate lectures in area of drug abuse to students at local high schools. Designed as followup to course C177 where students learned didactic material on mechanisms of action and translational aspects of drugs of abuse. Students meet on regular basis with supervisors and provide periodic reports of their experience. May not be applied toward major requirements. May be repeated twice for credit. Letter grading.

198A. Honors Research in Neuroscience (4)
Tutorial, 12 hours minimum. Requisites: courses 99, M101A. Limited to neuroscience honors program students. Directed independent research involving extensive reading and development of honors thesis or comprehensive project under direct supervision of faculty member. For departmental honors, students must also take course 191H. Maximum of 8 units of courses 198A, 198B, 199 may be applied toward major. Individual contract required. In Progress grading (credit to be given only on completion of course 198B).

198B. Honors Research in Neuroscience (4)
Tutorial, 12 hours minimum in laboratory. Requisite: course 198A. Continued reading and research that culminate in honors thesis under direct supervision of faculty member. For departmental honors, students must also take course 191H. Maximum of 8 units of courses 198A, 198B, 199 may be applied toward major. Individual contract required. Letter grading.

199A. Directed Research in Neuroscience (4)
Tutorial, 12 hours minimum. Enforced requisites: courses 99, M101A. Limited to junior/senior Neuroscience majors and minors with grades of B (3.0) or better. Supervised individual research or investigation under guidance of faculty mentor. Culminating paper or project required. Maximum of 8 units of courses 198A, 198B, 199A, 199B may be applied toward major. Individual contract required. In Progress grading (credit to be given only on completion of course 199B).

199B. Directed Research in Neuroscience (4)
Tutorial, 12 hours minimum. Enforced requisite: course 199A. Limited to junior/senior Neuroscience majors and minors with grades of B (3.0) or better. Continued supervised individual research or investigation under guidance of faculty mentor. Culminating paper or project required. Maximum of 8 units of courses 198A, 198B, 199A, 199B may be applied toward major. Individual contract required. Letter grading.

199C. Continued Directed Research in Neuroscience (4)
Tutorial, 12 hours minimum in laboratory. Enforced requisite: course 198B or 199B. Limited to junior/senior Neuroscience majors and minors with grades of B (3.0) or better. Continued reading and research that culminate in report under direct supervision of faculty mentor. May not be applied toward major. May be repeated for credit. Individual contract required. Letter grading.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY COURSE

153A. Biochemistry: Introduction to Structure, Enzymes, and Metabolism. (4) Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour. Requisite: course 14D or 30B, with a grade of C- or better. Recommended: Life Sciences 2, 3. Structure of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids; enzyme catalysis and principles of metabolism, including glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. P/NP or letter grading.

DISABILITY STUDIES COURSE

M139. Perspectives on Autism and Neurodiversity (4)
Genealogy of autism as diagnostic category and cultural phenomenon from its historical roots as new, rare, and obscure condition in early 1940s to its current contested status as minority identity and/or global epidemic. Examination of material sourced from various fields and disciplines invested in autism, including psychology, neuroscience, arts and humanities, popular media, anthropology, activism, and critical autism studies. Students encounter and analyze multiple perspectives on autism and put them in conversation with one another. Attention paid to way people on spectrum define, explain, and represent their own experiences of autism and discussion of what ramifications of these multiple framings are in context of autism intervention strategy and disability policy today. Letter grading.

MUSIC INDUSTRY COURSE

M103. Music and Brain. (4) Seminar, four hours; outside study, eight hours. Multidisciplinary approach to understanding brain mechanisms mediating music perception, performance, and cognition. Students' natural interest in music serves as springboard for learning basic concepts about how brain works. Focus on specific themes such as harmony perception, rhythm perception, emotion and meaning in music, and creativity. Designed to help students understand methodologies currently used to investigate brain-behavior correlates. Broad understanding of research topics in cognitive neuroscience, one of three main subdisciplines of neuroscience; introduction to fundamental principles in neurophysiology, psychophysiology, and neuroanatomy, whose basics form foundation for brain imaging, forensic practice, social psychology research, and marketing research; and specific knowledge about brain mechanisms mediating music-related cognitive and emotional functions. Letter grading.

PHYSICS COURSE

C186. Neurophysics: Brain-Mind Problem (4)
(Formerly numbered 186.) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: courses 1A, 1B, 1C, 4AL, 4BL, 6A, 6B, 6C, Chemistry 14A or 20A, Mathematics 3A, 3B, 3C, 31A, 32A, 32B, 33A. How does mind emerge from brain? Provides summary of basic biophysics of neurons, synapses, and plasticity. Introduction to commonly used experimental and theoretical techniques of measuring, quantifying, and modeling neural activity, and their relative strengths and weakness and use of them to understand link between neural circuits, their emergent neural dynamics, and behavior in example model systems. Discussion of mechanisms of interaction between neural circuits and their role in cognition, learning, and sleep. Computer laboratory component where students learn to write simple codes to quantify neural activity patterns. Concurrently scheduled with course CM286. P/NP or letter grading.

PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES COURSES

M106. Neurobiology of Bias and Discrimination (4)
(Same as Neuroscience M187 and Psychology M166.) Lecture, three hours. Limited to junior/senior neuroscience, physiological science, and psychology students. Exploration of aspects of mammalian brain function that generate preference, bias, and discrimination. Consideration of research at multiple levels of analysis from genetics to neural circuits to behavior. Discussion of societal implications of these research findings, including their relevance to public policies and criminal justice system. Letter grading.

121. Disease Mechanisms and Therapies (5)
Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: Chemistry 153A, and Life Sciences 2, 3, and 4 or 7A, 7B, and 7C. Designed for junior/senior Biochemistry and life sciences majors. Use of disease mechanisms as pedagogical tools to develop higher-order knowledge of basic scientific concepts. Integration of concepts from genetics, molecular and cell biology, physiology, and biochemistry to create molecular solutions to problem of inherited neuromuscular disease. Letter grading.

C126. Biological Clocks. (4) (Formerly numbered 126.) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: courses 111A, 111B, and 111C, or M180A, M180B, and M180C. Most organisms, including humans, exhibit daily rhythms in physiology and behavior. In many cases these rhythms are generated from within organisms and are called circadian rhythms. Biological basis of these daily rhythms or circadian oscillations. Exploration of molecular, cellular, and system-level organization of these timing systems. Temporal role of these variations in maintaining homeostatic mechanisms of body and impact on nervous system. Concurrently scheduled with course C226. Letter grading

C127. Neuroendocrinology of Reproduction. (4) Lecture, three hours. Enforced requisite: course 111B. Understanding of reproductive neuroendocrinology throughout mammalian lifespan, with emphasis as appropriate on human condition. Discussion of general concepts of endocrine feedback and feed-forward loops, sexual differentiation, and structure and function for components of hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis. Exploration of sex differences in physiology and disease. Concurrently scheduled with course CM227. Letter grading.

M135. Dynamical Systems Modeling of Physiological Processes. (5) (Formerly numbered C135.) Lecture, four hours; laboratory, two hours. Examination of art of making and evaluating dynamical models of physiological systems and of dynamical principles inherent in physiological systems. Letter grading.

138. Neuromuscular Physiology and Adaptation. (4) Requisites: course 111B, Chemistry 153A. Cellular responses to acute and chronic exercise and environmental states of neuromuscular system.

C144. Neural Control of Physiological Systems. (5) Lecture, four hours. Requisite: course 111B or M180B. Role of central nervous system in control of respiration, circulation, sexual function, and bladder control. Material for each section to be developed by combination of lecture and open discussion. Concurrently scheduled with course C244.

M145. Neural Mechanisms Controlling Movement. (5) (Same as Neuroscience M145.) Lecture, four hours. Requisite: course 111A or M180A or Neuroscience M101A. Examination of central nervous system organization required for production of complex movements such as locomotion, mastication, and swallowing. Letter grading.

146. Principles of Nervous System Development. (4) Lecture, four hours. Requisites: courses 107 (or Neuroscience 102) and 111A (or M180A or Neuroscience M101A). Examination of construction of vertebrate nervous system as series of steps beginning with several embryonic cells and culminating as complex highly ordered system. Topics include neurulation, regionalization, neurogenesis, migration, axonal outgrowth, and synapse formation. Letter grading.

147. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. (5) Lecture, four hours; research demonstration, one hour. Requisite: course 111A or M180A. Changes in central nervous system that accompany learning, with emphasis on cellular mechanisms.

M173. Anatomy and Physiology of Sense Organs. (4) (Same as Ecology and Evolutionary Biology M173.) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: courses 111A (or Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology 171) or M180A and M180B (or Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M175A and M175B). Structure and function of sense organs. Adoption of quantitative and comparative approach to provide insight into evolution of sense organs in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Letter grading.

174. Cell Biophysics in Physiology and Disease. (5) Lecture, three hours; discussion, two hours. Requisites: Chemistry 153A, Life Sciences 2, 3, 4, and 23L, or 7A, 7B, 7C, and 23L, Physics 5A, 5B, and 5C, or 6A, 6B, and 6C. Search for information in biological research has traditionally focused on genes and biochemical pathways. While physical aspects of cell biology are critical in physiology and disease, they have received so much less attention in research. For example, mechanical properties of cells determine how physical forces alter gene expression and can signal transformation in physiological state of cells, such as in malignant transformation. Exploration of cell biophysics in health and disease from basic physical principles that underlie structure and organization of cytoskeleton to role of cell deformability in diseases such as cancer. Use of articles from primary literature regarding current research. Letter grading.

175. Why Fido Can't Speak: Biological Evolution of Language. (5) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisite: course 111A or Neuroscience M101A. "Homo sapiens" are only species currently on planet to possess language. Exploration of whether other species possess potential building blocks for language. Topics range from examination of how bees and ants signal about food sources to whether structured songs of birds, whales, and monkeys contain compositional meaning. Topics intersect with those in fields of anthropology, biopsychology, linguistics, molecular genetics, neuroscience, and physiology. Letter grading.

M176. Auditory Neuroscience of Speech Perception and Vocal Communication (4)
(Same as Physiological Science M176.) Lecture, two and one half hours; discussion, 90 minutes. Requisite: course M101A or Physiological Science 107. Interdisciplinary approach to understanding how humans and other animals communicate emotion and meaning using sound. Weekly research topics in disciplines of systems neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, psychophysics, and psycholinguistics. Emphasis on fundamental principles in neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, psychology, and neurology. Letter grading.

177. Neuroethology. (5) Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour. Requisite: course 111A. Physical properties of animal signals and physiological mechanisms underlying their generation. Topics include classical neuroethological models: acoustic and vibration communication in vertebrates, sound localization in owls, electrosensing and electrocommunication in electric fish, and neurobiology of birdsong. Letter grading.

M181. Biological Bases of Psychiatric Disorders. (4) (Same as Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M181, Neuroscience M130, Psychiatry M181, and Psychology M117J.) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 111A or M180A (or Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M175A or Neuroscience M101A or Psychology M117A) or Psychology 115. Underlying brain systems involved in psychiatric symptoms and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive/compulsive disorder. Provides basic understanding of brain dysfunctions that contribute to disorders and rationales for pharmacological treatments. P/NP or letter grading.

PSYCHOLOGY COURSES

110. Fundamentals of Learning. (4) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: courses 10, 100A. Designed for juniors/seniors. Experimental findings on animal and human conditioning; retention and transfer of training; relation of learning and motivation. Intended to provide empirical basis for theory and research in this area. P/NP or letter grading.

112A. Basic Processes of Motivated Behavior. (4) Lecture, 90 minutes; discussion, 90 minutes. Requisites: courses 10, 100A, 110. Designed for juniors/seniors. Examination of some basic processes underlying motivated behavior, stressing environmental determinants of behaviors such as feeding, drinking, and reproduction-related behavior. Discussion of physiological mechanisms that contribute to such behaviors. Consideration of topics such as reinforcement, acquired motivation, and drug addiction. Evaluation of evidence obtained in laboratory studies conducted with animals. P/NP or letter grading.

112B. Psychobiology of Fear and Anxiety. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisites: courses 10, 100A, 110. Recommended: course 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Presentation of biological and behavioral approaches to fear and anxiety, taken from laboratory and applied research. In addition to overview of major principles from each approach, emphasis on areas in which significant research advances have recently occurred. Examination of concordance and discordance between results from laboratory and applied research. P/NP or letter grading.

112C. Psychobiology of Anxiety and Depression. (4) Lecture, two and one half hours; discussion, 30 minutes. Requisites: courses 110 and 115, or Neuroscience M101A, M101B, and M101C. Limited to juniors/seniors. Presentation of biological and behavioral approaches to anxiety and depression, taken from laboratory and applied research. In addition to overview of major principles from each approach, emphasis on areas in which significant research advances have recently occurred. Examination of concordance and discordance between results from laboratory and applied research. P/NP or letter grading.

M117J. Biological Bases of Psychiatric Disorders. (4) (Same as Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M181, Neuroscience M130, Physiological Science M181, and Psychiatry M181.) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115 or M117A (or Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M175A or Neuroscience M101A or Physiological Science M180A) or Physiological Science 111A. Underlying brain systems involved in psychiatric symptoms and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive/compulsive disorder. Provides basic understanding of brain dysfunctions that contribute to disorders and rationales for pharmacological treatments. P/NP or letter grading.

118. Comparative Psychobiology. (4) Requisite: course 115. Designed for junior/senior majors. Survey of determinants of species-specific behavior, including genetic influences and learning.

119A. Neuropsychopharmacology. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Analysis of basic pharmacologic principles to include interaction of drugs with neurochemically significant substances in brain.

119B. Human Neurophysiology. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Exploration of biological basis of human cognitive processing, with emphasis on function of cerebral cortex.

119C. Cognitive Neuroscience. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115 or M117C. Understanding complex mental functions depends on interplay of cognitive psychology and behavioral neuroscience. Designed to provide advanced undergraduate students with current perspectives on how complex processes of mind may be understood using neuroscience techniques. P/NP or letter grading.

119D. Behavioral Neuropharmacology. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115. Limited to juniors/seniors. Biochemical and neural basis of psychotropic drug action. Particular emphasis on pharmacological regulation of neurotransmission and relationship of these processes to mental disorders. P/NP or letter grading.

119E. Stress and Bodily Disease. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Psychobiological processes as they pertain to development of stress responses and disease states. Consideration of stress-related topics, including behavioral and pharmacological variables in stress and stress management.

119F. Neuron Circuitry and Behavior. (4) Requisites: course 115, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology 171. Designed for juniors/seniors. Presentation of current data and theory concerning how neuron circuits produce behavior. Mechanisms of perception, response selection, motor pattern generation, learning, and motivation, with emphasis on operation of these processes in well-defined neural circuits.

119I. Integration of Face and Brain. (4) Seminar, three hours. Requisite: course 115 or M117C. Faces play major role in social interactions in both humans and nonhuman primates and in other animals as well. Exploration of neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, and neurofunctional underpinnings of face processing (attractiveness, emotional expressions, facial skin, identity recognition, based on empirical studies that use behavioral responses in neuroimaging techniques, in effects of types of brain damage, in physiological responses, and in psychopathological states. Discussion of evolutionary approaches to faces, as well as relationship between specific genetic mutations affecting both brain and facial appearance. P/NP or letter grading.

119J. Brain Bugs: Understanding Brain through Its Flaws. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115 or M117C. Designed for juniors/seniors. Psychology of brain flaws and limitations to understand how brain works by studying what it does well and understanding neuroscience of why brain is poorly suited to perform some tasks such as numerical calculations, memorizing lists and names, and making unbiased decisions. Topics include memory (types of memory, false memories, misinformation and memory, memory capacity) and cognitive biases (framing, anchoring, and temporal discounting). Exploration of underlying neural causes of brain flaws and limitations in context of brain's associative architecture. Basic neurophysiology, synaptic plasticity, cortical plasticity, neural basis of learning and memory, and some computational neuroscience. P/NP or letter grading.

M119L. Human Neuropsychology. (4) (Same as Neuroscience M119L.) Lecture, three hours. Requisites: courses 115 (or M117A and M117C), 120A or 120B. Designed for juniors/seniors. Survey of experimental and clinical human neuropsychology; neural basis of higher cognitive functions. P/NP or letter grading.

119M. Physiological Psychology of Learning. (4) Lecture, 90 minutes; discussion, 90 minutes. Requisite: course 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Introduction to classical and current literature on mechanisms of learning, considering both cell-biological mechanisms and brain circuitry.

M119N. The Visual System. (4) (Same as Neuroscience M119N.) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115 or Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology 171 or Neuroscience M101A or Physiological Science 111A. The ability to image and analyze the visual world is a truly remarkable feat. Coverage of anatomy and physiology of visual processing from the retina to visual cortex through lectures, extensive reading, and discussions.

M119O. Psychology of Aging. (4) (Same as Gerontology M119O.) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Aging refers to developmental changes occurring at end stages of life. Some alterations that occur represent improvement, others are detrimental. Examination of impact of aging process on mental phenomena and exploration of ways in which positive changes can be maximally utilized and impact of detrimental alterations minimized. P/NP or letter grading.

119Q. Psychobiology of Sleep and Dreams. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Review of measurement and comparison of sleep in mammals and submammalian species, circadian rhythms and circadian control of sleep, development and aging of sleep, neural and neurochemical control of sleep, effects of sleep deprivation, sleep in psychiatric disorders, human sleep disorders, and function of dreams. P/NP or letter grading.

119R. Neurobiology of Visual Cognition. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Review of some recent advances in understanding of neurobiology of visual cognition. Topics include how is visual information processed by brain to generate actions? How do we recognize objects? How do we perceive emotions displayed by other subjects? P/NP or letter grading.

119S. Neural Basis of Learning and Computing with Neurons. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Introduction to neural basis of learning and memory. Examination of current theories of what happens in brain when we learn and acquire new information. Introduction to how brain may use neural networks for learning and pattern recognition. How neural networks perform computations. P/NP or letter grading.

119U. Neural Correlates of Psychotic Disorders. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Exploration of genetic, cellular, structural, and functional abnormalities associated with psychotic states, including those seen in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, and drug-induced psychosis. Focus on common and unique neural findings associated with these abnormal states. Study includes review of clinical aspects of disorders covered. P/NP or letter grading.

M119X. Biology and Behavioral Neuroscience of Aging. (4) (Same as Gerontology M119X.) Lecture, three hours. Designed for juniors/seniors. Biologic mechanisms of aging process and its terminal phase, death, have been increasingly studied in recent years. Establishment of what is known experimentally about biology and behavioral neuroscience of aging and evaluation of theories developed to account for this knowledge. P/NP or letter grading.

120A. Cognitive Psychology. (4) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: courses 10, 100A. Designed for juniors/seniors. Survey of cognitive psychology: how people acquire, represent, transform, and use verbal and nonverbal information. Perception, attention, imagery, memory, representation of knowledge, language, action, decision making, thinking. P/NP or letter grading.

120B. Sensation and Perception. (4) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: courses 10, 100A. Designed for juniors/seniors. Acquisition of information about physical world through basic sensory mechanisms and perceptual processes. Perception of objects, surfaces, space, motion, and events. Connections between information, computations, and biological mechanisms in vision, audition, and other systems. P/NP or letter grading.

124A. Advanced Topics in Sensation and Perception. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisites: courses 10, 100A, 120A or 120B. Designed for juniors/seniors. Contemporary research and theory about visual and auditory perception. Topics include physiological mechanisms, psychophysical studies and models, and computational approaches. P/NP or letter grading.

124B. Visual Information Processing. (4) Lecture, two hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: courses 10, 100A, 120A or 120B. Exploration of issues in visual information, such as storage and representation of visual information in memory, pattern recognition, nature and role of attention in visual processing, word and picture recognition, object perception, and imagery. Possible consideration of developmental aspects. P/NP or letter grading.

124C. Human Memory. (4) Lecture, two hours; discussion, one hour. Requisite: course 120A or 120B. Designed for juniors/seniors. Analysis of recent research on basic processes and structural components that comprise the human memory system. Discussion topics include practical implications of such research for instruction, marketing, and witness testimony. P/NP or letter grading.

124D. Consciousness: Current Debates. (4) Seminar, three hours. Requisites: courses 100B, 115. Designed for juniors/seniors. Review of current issues in research on cognitive neuroscience of consciousness, with focus on modern theories of conscious perception, especially in visual modality so as to reflect its dominance in consciousness research. P/NP or letter grading.

124K. Ethical, Legal, and Societal Implications of Cognitive Neuroscience. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 120A or 120B. Designed for juniors/seniors. Critical examination of current and potential use of neuroimaging data in legal system as means to assess memories, truthfulness, culpability, and probability of future criminal behavior. Consideration of personal and societal consequences of use of cognitively enhancing drugs, memory dampening techniques, brain stimulation, and neural prostheses. Students debate range of current topics. P/NP or letter grading.

127B. Abnormal Psychology: Biological Bases. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 10. Not open for credit to students with credit for course 127A or 127C. Study of biological substrates of abnormal cognition, behavior, and mood, with particular focus on neuroscience, genetics, physiology, and anatomy of clinical disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and substance disorders. P/NP or letter grading.

M139. Perspectives on Autism and Neurodiversity (4) (Same as Disability Studies M139.) Seminar, three and one half hours. Genealogy of autism as diagnostic category and cultural phenomenon from its historical roots as new, rare, and obscure condition in early 1940s to its current contested status as minority identity and/or global epidemic. Examination of material sourced from various fields and disciplines invested in autism, including psychology, neuroscience, arts and humanities, popular media, anthropology, activism, and critical autism studies. Students encounter and analyze multiple perspectives on autism and put them in conversation with one another. Attention paid to way people on spectrum define, explain, and represent their own experiences of autism and discussion of what ramifications of these multiple framings are in context of autism intervention strategy and disability policy today. Letter grading.

M161. Behavior and Brain Development. (4) Lecture, three hours. Requisites: courses 10, 100A. Limited to juniors/seniors. Exploration of relationship between brain development and behavior. Examination of how cognitive neuroscience can inform study of development and how developmental approach can advance progress in cognitive and developmental sciences. P/NP or letter grading.

M162. Psychology of Addiction. (4) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Survey of topics covering psychological and neurobiological theories of addiction, pharmacological effects of drugs and abuse, etiology, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. P/NP or letter grading.

164. Puberty and Sleep (4)
Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 10. Limited to juniors/seniors. Exploration of how normative biological and hormonal changes during adolescence influence adolescent behavior and well-being. Focus specifically on puberty and sleep, which both lead to consequential effects on behavior, health, and brain development. P/NP or letter grading.

M166. Neurobiology of Bias and Discrimination (4)
(Same as Neuroscience M187) Seminar, three hours; discussion, one hour. Limited to junior/senior neuroscience and psychology students. Exploration of aspects of mammalian brain function that generate preference, bias, and discrimination. Consideration of research at multiple levels of analysis from genetics to neural circuits to behavior. Discussion of societal implications of these research findings, including their relevance to public policies and criminal justice system. Letter grading.

188A. Special Seminars: Class Title: Legal, Ethical, and Societal Implications of Cognitive Neuroscience (4) Seminar, three hours. Limited to juniors/seniors. Departmentally sponsored experimental or temporary seminars on selected topics in psychology, such as those taught by visiting faculty members. Reading, discussion, and development of culminating project. May be repeated for credit. P/NP or letter grading.Class Description: Exploration of ethical implications of modern neuroscientific advances. Critical examination of current and potential use of neuroimaging data in legal system as means to assess memories, truthfulness, culpability, and probability of future criminal behavior. Consideration of societal consequences of cognitively enhancing drugs, memory dampening techniques, and non-clinical brain stimulation. Students debate ethics of neuromarketing and grapple with implications of measuring consciousness in vegetative patients.

PSYCHIATRY COURSE

174 - Brain and Behavioral Health: Childhood and Adolescence (5)
Exploration of integration of developmental psychopathology, applied treatment research, and public policy to identify and dismantle barriers to problems. Focus on set of key topics (e.g., autism, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders) during childhood and adolescence. Research of childhood and adolescent mental health and public policy literature. Guest facilitators with expertise complement study of emerging treatment advances, applications, and barriers. Letter grading.

176-Brain and Behavioral Health: Adulthood and Aging (5)
Integration of problem-based learning approach to teach foundational information about application of brain and behavioral science to understanding and promotion of mental health during adulthood and aging. Exploration of integration of developmental psychopathology, applied treatment research, and public policy to identify and dismantle barriers to problems. Focus on set of key topics (e.g., depression, dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder) during adulthood and aging. Research of mental health and public policy literature. Guest facilitators with expertise complement study of emerging treatment advances, applications, and barriers. Letter grading.

M182 - Personal Brain Management (4)
Basic overview of brain function and consideration of some management methods that exist already, and what future may hold. New methods for predicting our own futures and modeling what if scenarios that might alter risks and benefits of different courses of action, based on individual genetic background and other elements of personal history and environmental exposures. Introduction to key principles from science of behavior change, illustrating how important health-related behavioral habits are and how difficult these can be to change and why. Coverage of series of topics that center on personal enhancement of well-being through consideration of stress management, long-term goal and value identification, mapping of long-term goals onto immediate actions, reinforcement learning, meditation, neuro feedback, and time management. Critical appraisal of tools to help students distinguish scientifically validated procedures. Offered in summer only. Letter grading.