COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will introduce students to techniques for in vivo recording of neural activity and approaches to define connectivity and expression profiling of neurons. Emphasis on techniques, instrumentation, and data analysis (demos for analysis). We will introduce the basics of measurement and instrumentation for in vivo physiology, in vivo calcium imaging, and introduce methods for manipulation, anatomy, and expression profiling of neurons. A key motivation in going over the techniques will be to compare methods for recording and manipulation (i.e. physiology versus imaging, optogenetics versus chemogenetics) in terms both of the mechanisms at the level of individual neurons and how that manipulation will impact resulting data and interpretation of behavioral/activity outcomes. Course meetings will be lectures to go over the basic information as well as hands on demonstrations with equipment and example data analysis. Students will be evaluated based class participation and on a final presentation (around 15 minutes) of recent advances in the application or analysis of one of the techniques discussed in class.

Course Objectives:

- understand principles of measurement and analysis
- understand the advantages and limitation of specific approaches for neural recordings
- get hands-on experience handling data sets from in vivo recording experiments
- understand the advantages and limitations of methods for manipulating neurons
- become versed in visualizing and interpreting data from neural recording and neural manipulation experiments
 

PREREQUISITES: None

REQUIRED MATERIALS: If students would like to follow along with data analysis demonstrations, a computer and free software (TBA) will be required. Demos will also be shown on a screen.

SUITABLE FOR 1ST YEAR STUDENTS: Yes. Priority enrollment is given to grad students, but postdocs and other are welcome if the max enrollment has not been reached.

STUDENT ASSESSMENTS: Students will be assessed based on in-class participation and a final presentation (75% participation; 25% final presentation). Participation will be assessed by daily or weekly reflections on Canvas, that will include short summaries of the main points covered in that week, and assessment of lab notebook.

Attendance and Participation
No more than one unexcused absence will be allowed. All absences (excused or otherwise) must be “made-up” by completing the requisite work completed in class.

CREDIT HOURS: 2.0