Teaching

Current course information:

No current teaching

 

Dr. Perry has taught courses in the graduate programs in Complex Systems & Brain Sciences, Psychology and Integrative Biology, and undergraduate courses in Psychobiology. In addition to formal teaching, Dr. Perry has taught special seminars and students can complete directed independent study (DIS) credits in his laboratory.  The formal courses listed in the graduate and undergraduate catalogs are:

  • Neuroscience 1 & 2, PSB 6345 & 6346 (6 credits total). These are upper level graduate lecture courses required of students in the PhD Program in Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, but open to all graduate students. These courses cover the principles of neural science including nerve cell biology, membrane biophysics, neurotransmission, functional neuroanatomy, sensory processes, neural development and higher brain function such as learning and memory, and are team-taught with Dr. Robert Vertes and Dr. Robert Stackman.
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  • Developmental Neurobiology PSB 5515 (3 credits). A graduate level lecture and seminar course covering the fundamental principles and recent advances in the development of the brain and nervous system, including nerve cell migration, axon outgrowth, specificity and plasticity, neurotrophism, nerve cell death and the influence of experience in patterning the nervous system. Senior undergraduates are also permitted to take this course with permission from the instructor.  This course is currently offered by Dr. Kathleen Guthrie.
  • Biological Bases of Behavior, PSB 3002 (3 credits). An undergraduate lecture course required of all Psychology and Psychobiology majors which covers the structure and function of the nervous system as it relates to behavior. Topics include basic neuroanatomy, membrane and action potential, neurotransmission, methods in psychobiology, sensory systems, muscle and control of movement.  This course is offered by various behavioral neuroscience faculty from the Department of Psychology.
  • Biological Bases of Behavior II, PSB 4004 (3 credits). An undergraduate lecture course which surveys the biological bases of species-typical behaviors such as sleep, learning and memory, ingestive behaviors, reproductive behaviors, emotion and stress, and human communication. PSB 3002 is pre-requisite for this course.  This course is offered by various behavioral neuroscience faculty from the Department of Psychology.

Neuroscience 1 Syllabus

NEUROSCIENCE 1, PSB 6345
Fall Semester
Behavioral Sciences BS 12 Room 303
Tues & Thurs 9:30-10:50am

Preamble:  This course is intended for Graduate Students and is the first of a two-part sequence (6 credits total) which covers the principles of neural science, including, neural cell and molecular biology, neuromembranes, neurotransmitters and post-synaptic mechanisms, muscle and control of movement, functional neuroanatomy, sensory processes, higher brain function, neural development and cellular mechanisms of learning and memory. Senior Undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructors.

Course Objectives:  This is a foundation course that prepares students for more in depth courses and material in the area of brain science.  As you can see, the topics to be covered are extensive, and so we will not be able to cover them all in great depth in class. However, as a graduate student you are expected to read all the materials provided as well as research additional material as necessary to complete your understanding and knowledge of the subject matter. Basic handouts of material covered in each class will be provided and should be used only as a guide for your reading. Please read the textbook chapters before class. The course will follow a lecture format with in-class discussion of the topics presented, as well as material from the textbook and other selected readings and papers.  Questions and lots of discussion are actively encouraged.

Instructors:  Dr. Robert P. Vertes (7-2362) and Dr. Gary W. Perry (7-2360)                     Office Hours:  By Appointment

Texts:            Principles of Neural Science, Kandel Schwartz and Jessell, 4th edition, Elsevier
                      Core Text of Neuroanatomy, by M.B. Carpenter, 4th edition, Williams and Wilkins
                      The Human Brain, by J. Nolte, 5th edition, Mosby
                      Chapters from other textbooks and additional readings will be provided for copying.

Evaluation: Course grade will be based on a mid-term (50%) and final exam (50%). The exams will be multiple-choice in format so as to maximally test your overall knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in this course. Each exam will be followed by a review of the exam. No extra credit assignments will be given. An incomplete grade (I) will not be given in lieu of a grade of C or less. If there is justifiable reason for missing an exam (eg: illness, jury duty, death, etc) then a make-up exam will be given. Unjustifiable reasons for missing an exam will result in zero points for the exam missed. Appropriate documentation must be presented for justifiable absence from an exam.

Course outline:  The following list of topics will be covered; however, we may spend more time on one than another. Exams will be based on material covered in class.

1.Cellular & Molecular Basis of the Nervous System (KSJ: 1,2,3,4,5) - Perry

2.Neuro-membrane Structure and Function (Siegel, et al., Ch. 2; KSJ: 6) - Perry

3.Membrane potential, passive properties (KSJ: 7,8) - Vertes

4.Action potential, signal conduction (KSJ: 9) - Vertes

5.Overview of synaptic transmission (KSJ: 10) - Vertes

6.Neuromuscular and  central synapses (KSJ: 11,12) - Vertes

7.Factors controlling transmitter release (KSJ: 14) - Vertes

Mid Term Exam

8.Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators (KSJ: 15) - Perry

9.Molecular Aspects of Synaptic Transmission (KSJ: 10,11,13) - Perry

10.Muscle Structure and Function (Guyton, Ch. 7,8; KSJ: 34) - Perry

11.Muscle Receptors, Control of Reflex and Voluntary Movement (KSJ: 33,36,38) - Perry

12.Spinal Cord (Nolte: 10) - Vertes

13.Autonomic nervous system (Nolte: 10; KSJ: 49) - Vertes

14.Brainstem (Nolte: 11; KSJ: 44, 45) - Vertes

15.Cranial nerves and vestibular systems (Nolte: 12, 14; KSJ: 40,44) - Vertes

No class (Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting); Thanksgiving

Tentative exam dates: Mid-Term exam, Rebuttal; Final Exam, Rebuttal

Neuroscience 2 Syllabus

NEUROSCIENCE 2, PSB 6346
Spring Semester
Behavioral Sciences BS 12 Room 303
Tues. & Thurs. 9:30-10:50am

Preamble: This course follows-on from Neuroscience 1 (PSB 6345) with a continued discussion of functional neuroanatomy, sensory systems, neural development, nerve damage and regeneration, and the molecular and cellular basis of learning and memory. Senior Undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructors.

Course Objectives:  This is a foundation course that prepares students for more in depth courses and material in the area of brain science. As you can see, the topics to be covered are extensive, and so we will not be able to cover them all in great depth in class. However, as a graduate student you are expected to read all the materials provided as well as research additional material as necessary to complete your understanding and knowledge of the subject matter. Basic handouts of material covered in each class will be provided and should be used only as a guide for your reading. Please read the textbook chapters before class. The course will follow a lecture format with in-class discussion of the topics presented, as well as material from the textbook and other selected readings and papers. Questions and lots of discussion are actively encouraged.

Instructors:  Dr. Gary W. Perry (7-2360) and Dr. Robert P. Vertes (7-2362)                     Office Hours:  By appointment.

Texts:              Principles of Neural Science, Kandel Schwartz and Jessell, 4th edition, Elsevier
                        Core Text of Neuroanatomy, by M.B. Carpenter, 4th edition, Williams and Wilkins

The Human Brain, by J. Nolte, 5th edition, Mosby
                        Chapters from other textbooks and additional readings will be provided for copying

Evaluation: Course grade will be based on a mid-term (50%) and final exam (50%). The exams will be multiple choice format so as to maximally test your overall knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in this course. Each exam will be followed by a review of the exam. No extra credit assignments will be given. An incomplete grade (I) will not be given in lieu of a grade of C or less. If there is justifiable reason for missing an exam (eg: illness, jury duty, death, etc) then a make-up exam will be given. Unjustifiable reasons for missing an exam will result in zero points for the exam missed. Appropriate documentation must be presented for justifiable absence from an exam.

Course outline:  The following list of topics will be covered; however, we may spend more time on one than another, and we may not get through the whole syllabus. Exams will be based on material we cover in class.

1.      Spinal Cord (Nolte: 10) - Vertes

2.   Autonomic Nervous System (Nolte: 10; KSJ: 49) - Vertes

3.   Brainstem (Nolte: 11; KSJ 44, 45) - Vertes

4.   Cranial Nerves (Nolte: 12; KSJ: 40, 44)  - Vertes

5.   Cerebellum (Carpenter: 8; KJS: 42)  - Vertes

6.   Basal ganglia (Nolte: 19; KSJ: 43) - Vertes

7.      Limbic system (Nolte: 23) - Vertes

8.      Retina, Phototransduction and Central Visual Pathways (KSJ: 26,27) - Perry

9.      Cortical Structure and Function (KSJ: 27,28,25) - Perry

10.     Color Vision (KSJ: 29) - Perry

Mid Term Exam

11.      Auditory System (KSJ: 30,31) - Perry

12.      Vestibular System (KSJ: 40) - Perry

13.      Somatosensory System (KSJ: 22,23,24) - Perry

14.  Taste and Smell (KSJ: 32) - Perry

15.  Neural Development (KSJ: 52,53,54,55,56) - Perry

16.  Cellular and Molecular Mechanism of Learning and Memory (KSJ: 64,65) - Perry

No Classes during Spring Break

Tentative Exam dates: Mid-Term Exam, Rebuttal; Final Exam, Rebuttal

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