Systems Neuroscience Seminar - Part I

This seminar will meet Tuesdays at 2 PM in the VIPBG conference room during the fall 2008 term.
Organisers: Mark Reimers and Michael Neale

The aim of this seminar series is to explore the relation between physiology and function at critical points (‘decisions’) in natural behavior. In the first part we will explore the relationship among attention, reward and arousal in terms of activity in specific brain regions and in terms of specific neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. In the second part we will study the connections and currently suggested roles of the basal ganglia, amygdala, hippocampus, and the orbito-frontal and cingulate cortices in organizing activity and responding to new inputs through emotion.

Part I

  1. Introduction & Orientation: Slides
    References: Kandel & Schwarz (4th ed.), chapters 4, 17. (To view Kandel & Schwarz on reserve, log into the library, go to 'Advanced Search' and search the reserves under HGEN 691-007 or the name "Reimers".)

  2. Core neurotransmitters: Glutamate and GABA: metabolism, receptor types, and behavioral roles. (2 weeks)
    Week 1 readings: Kandel & Schwarz (4th ed.), chapters 10, 12; Wikipedia entries: metabotropic Glutamate receptors, GPCR's, GABAB receptors
    Questions for discussion
    Week 2 readings: Kandel & Schwarz (4th ed.), chapter 13

  3. Overview of Neuromodulators; Acetylcholine
    References: Kandel & Schwarz (4th ed.), 15 (p280-287), chapter 45 ( first 9 pages); Giocomo & Hasselmo (hard)
    Questions for discussion:

  4. Neuromodulators: Norepinephrine
    Readings: Bouret and Sara; Aston-Jones and Cohen, pp.404-414; Ramos and Arnsten, sec. 1,2,3
    Questions for discussion

  5. Neuromodulators: Serotonin
    References: Wikipedia - Serotonin receptors Nichols & Nichols sections 1, 1.1.1, 4 Amitzia sections I - IV
    Questions

  6. Neuromodulators: Dopamine
    References:
    Some Fun Facts about dopamine. See also Wikipedia's articles on dopamine and dopamine receptors.
    Panksepp - Dopamine & behavior. Section 1 for Oct 14; sections 2 - 4 for Oct 21.
    Goto - Yin & Yang of dopamine release , sections 1 - 2 for Oct 14; remainder for Oct 21.
    Schultz argues for a cognitive interpretation (Oct 21).
    Redgrave responds (Oct 21).
    Vernier - Dopamine evolution. Sections 1,2,3,5 for Oct 21 (secondary)
    Questions

  7. Other neuromodulators: NPY, substance P, oxytocin, opioids, cannabinoids
    Quick Facts and References:
    Lim & Young describe how oxytocin and vasopressin regulate social behaviors (see this corrected figure ).
    Janecka, sections 1, 2.1, and 2.2 summarizes knowledge about opioid receptors.
    See also the Wikipedia articles on opioid receptors and oxytocin

  8. The HPA axis and stress
    Quick Facts and References:
    EndoText (the first two-thirds) on adrenal axis.
    de Kloet's review, pp 1 - 8.

  9. Genetic variations in neurotransmitter circuits: Endophenotypes References: Kandel & Schwarz (4th ed), chapter 61
    1. Nov 11: Logothetis discusses the meaning of fMRI data.
    2. Nov 18 no meeting
    3. Nov 25: Logothetis' paper examining the connection between fMRI and electrical measures of neural activity.


    4. Dec 2: HTTR and depression



Next Semester: Brain Regions