Neurobiology
C300 Sterling Hall of Medicine, 785.4323
M.S., M.Phil., Ph.D.
Chair
Pasko Rakic
Director of Graduate Studies
Amy Arnsten (SHM B428, 785.4431, amy.arnsten@yale.edu)
Director of Medical Studies
Michael Schwartz (SHM C314, 785.4324, michael.schwartz@yale.edu)
Professors
Colin Barnstable, Benjamin Bunney, Nigel Daw, Patricia Goldman-Rakic,
Charles Greer, Susan Hockfield, Jeffery Kocsis, Robert LaMotte,
Csaba Leranth, David McCormick, Pasko Rakic, Joseph Santos-Sacchi,
Ilsa Schwartz, Gordon Shepherd, Stephen Strittmatter, Stephen
Waxman
Associate Professors
Meenakshi Alreja, Amy Arnsten, Charles Bruce, Nihal de Lanerolle,
Tamas Horvath, Thomas Hughes, Bita Moghaddam, Marina Picciotto,
Anna Roe, Michael Schwartz, Flora Vaccarino, Christopher van
Dyck
Assistant Professors
Hal Blumenfeld, Wei Chen, Maria Donoghue Velleca, Reiko Maki
Fitzsimonds, Mark Laubach, Dhasakumar Navaratnam, Vincent
Pieribone, Nenad Sestan, Ning Tian, Mark Yeckel
Fields of Study
Fields include the development, neuronal organization,
and function of the mammalian central nervous system. The
range of methods includes molecular and cellular neurobiology,
neuroanatomy, receptor biochemistry, neuropharmacology, neurophysiology,
and behavior. An integrative, multidisciplinary approach is
encouraged.
Special Requirements for the Ph.D.
Four terms of course work, selected in consultation
with faculty advisers, are required. Neurobiology 500b and
an advanced course in cell biology are required. It is expected
that the student maintain a better than passing record in
the area of concentration. The Graduate School requires two
term grades of Honors during the first two years of study.
The qualifying examination is given at the end of the second
year of study. The remaining degree requirements include the
submission of a prospectus, after which a student may be admitted
to candidacy; research under the supervision of the adviser;
and the submission of the dissertation. There is no formal
foreign language requirement.
An important aspect of graduate training in neurobiology is the acquisition of teaching skills through participation in courses appropriate for the student's scientific interests. These opportunities can be drawn from a diverse menu of lecture, laboratory, and seminar courses given at the undergraduate, graduate, and medical school level. Ph.D. students are expected to participate in two terms (or the equivalent) of teaching. Students are not expected to teach during their first year.
To enter the Ph.D. program, students apply to the Neuroscience
track within the Biological and Biomedical
Sciences.
Master's Degrees
M.Phil. See Graduate
School requirements. Awarded only to students who are
continuing for the Ph.D. degree. Students are not admitted
for this degree.
M.S. Awarded only to students who are not continuing
for the Ph.D. degree but who have successfully completed one
year of the doctoral program. Students are not admitted for
this degree.
Program materials are available upon request to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, PO Box 208001, New Haven CT 06520-8001.
Courses
NBIO 500b, Structural and Functional Organization
of the Human Nervous System. Pasko Rakic, Michael
Schwartz, and staff.
An integrative overview of the structure and function
of the human brain as it pertains to major neurological and
psychiatric disorders. Neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and
clinical correlations are interrelated to provide essential
background in the neurosciences. Lectures in neurocytology
and neuroanatomy survey neuronal organization in the human
brain, with emphasis on long fiber tracts related to clinical
neurology. Weekly three-hour laboratory sessions devoted to
neuroanatomy in which students dissect the human brain and
examine histological sections in close collaboration with
faculty members. Lectures in neurophysiology cover various
aspects of neural function at the cellular level, with a strong
emphasis on the mammalian nervous system. Each student may
participate in a weekly physiology conference with a faculty
member, covering such topics as vision, sensory physiology,
motor systems, simple nervous systems, or general neurophysiology.
Clinical correlations consist of five sessions given by one
or two faculty members representing both basic and clinical
sciences. These sessions relate neurological symptoms to cellular
processes in various diseases of the brain. Variable class
schedule; contact course instructor. Also NSCI 510b.
NBIO 501a, Principles of Neuroscience. Marina
Picciotto, Reiko Fitzsimonds. WF 3.15–4.45
General neuroscience seminar: lectures, readings, and
discussion of selected topics in neuroscience. Emphasis is
on how approaches at the molecular, cellular, physiological,
and organismal levels can lead to understanding of neuronal
and brain function. Also NSCI 501a.
NBIO 502a, Structure and Function of Neocortex. Patricia
Goldman-Rakic and faculty.
This seminar/lecture course covers anatomical, biochemical,
and physiological organization of selected sensory, motor,
and association regions of cortex. Sample topics discussed
include development, evolution of multiple representations,
columnar organization, and plasticity of neocortex. Permission
of instructor required.
[NBIO 507b, Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Neurologic
Disease.]
[NBIO 509b, Synaptic Organization of the Nervous System.]
NBIO 510, Introduction to Methods in Cellular and Molecular
Neurobiology. Faculty.
Firsthand insight into various techniques and approaches
used in neuroscience. Light microscopic techniques include
various metallic impregnation methods, autoradiography, anterograde
and retrograde axonal transport methods, hybridoma and recombined
DNA technology, deoxyglucose metabolic method, fluorescent
and immunocytochemical methods. Electron microscopy encompasses
transmission, electronmicroscopic autoradiography, and immuno-peroxidase
methodology. Choice of techniques and hours to be arranged
with individual faculty or staff members of the Department
of Neurobiology.
NBIO 511, Introduction to Techniques Used in Electrophysiological
Analysis at the Cellular Level. Faculty.
Includes practical training in in vivo and in vitro nervous
system preparations, extracellular and intracellular recordings,
sensory stimulation, dye injections, and selected neuropharmacological
procedures. Choice of techniques and hours to be arranged
with individual faculty or staff members of the Department
of Neurobiology.
[NBIO 520a, Vision: Cellular and Network Dynamics of
the Cerebral Cortex.]
[NBIO 524a, The Regulation of Cell Fate during CNS Development.]
[NBIO 530b, Neurobiology of Schizophrenia.]
NBIO 550, Introduction to Neuroinformatics. Gordon
Shepherd, Perry Miller, and staff.
NBIO 570a, Cellular and Network Dynamics of Sensory
and Motor Functions. Charles Bruce and faculty.
NBIO 601, Topics in Olfactory Physiology. Gordon
Shepherd. Advanced tutorial course.
NBIO 610b, Fundamentals in Neurophysiology. Vincent
Pieribone, Fred Sigworth.
This course is designed for students who wish to gain
a theoretical and practical knowledge of modern neurophysiology.
Graduate students specializing in neurophysiology and non-neurophysiology
are encouraged to attend, as the course begins at a very basic
level and progresses to more complicated topics. Topics include
properties of ion channels, firing properties of neurons,
synaptic transmission, and neurophysiology methodology.
NBIO 720a, Neurobiology. Haig Keshishian,
Paul Forscher. MWF 11.30–12.20
Examination of the excitability of the nerve cell membrane
provides a starting point for the study of molecular, cellular,
and intracellular mechanisms underlying the generation and
control of behavior. Also MCDB 720au, NSCI 720a.
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