R. Todd Constable, Ph.D.

Starting Sept. 7, 2000 Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-4:00pm, LMP 92

Contact: todd.constable@yale.edu            Phone:(203) 737-2768

Introduction:

This course will examine the experimental techniques currently available for the Neuroscientist. It will explore the kinds of information obtainable in studying phenomena ranging from electrophysiological recordings of individual neurons, to metabolic processes, ensembles of neurons, to behavioral output. Techniques to be covered include microscopic methods (light, electron), electrophysiology (extracellular/intracellular single cell recordings, multiple cell recording methods, brain slices), macroscopic methods (ERP, MEG, TMR), metabolic measures (microdialisis, biosensors, MR spectroscopy), imaging approaches (optical tomography, PET, SPECT, functional MRI), and interventional techniques (lesions, cortical stimulation, knockout genetics, surgery, drugs). The knowledge gained from each of these approaches, the limitations of the methods, and future developments will be considered.

This is a lecture course and students will be evaluated primarily through oral class presentations in a journal club format.  No prior familiarity with these methods is needed in order to participate.

Course Description:

An examination of the experimental methods available to the Neuroscientist today. What information is provided by the different methods available, the limitations of each approach, and future developments, will be considered. Consideration of the complimentary nature of the information from multiple modalities. The course examines methods ranging from single cell recordings to macroscopic functional imaging and behavioral analyses.

Lesson # (Total of 22 planned):

1: Over view of the course.

2-3: The Microscope - specimen preparation/ light microscopy/ confocal /electron microscopy, phase difference/interference microscopy/ dyes and staining/ antibodies/ fluorescence/ theoretical limits

4. Cell electrophysiology - preparation of cells/intra vs. extracellular recordings, microstimulation/ brain slice preps/ limitations

5. Cell metabolism - microdialysis/ controlled tissue culture systems

6-7. Systems metabolism - Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), microdialysis, biosensors

8. Nuclear Imaging - SPECT, PET, kinetic tracer models, autoradiography

9. Optical imaging - optical spectroscopy, optical tomography, contrast manipulations, limitations, future developments

10. Marco-Electrophysiology - EEG recordings, ERP recordings

11. Magnetic Stimulation - transcranial magnetic stimulation, method, limitations

12-14. fMRI - functional MRI, methods, pulse sequence design, mechanisms of signal change, limitations

15-17. Interventions - animal models, knockout genetics, lesion studies, cortical stimulation, surgery, drugs

18. Combined methods - complimentary information from multi-modality studies, relationships between microscopic and macroscopic studies, future techniques.

Student Journal Club Presentations
     Presentations of recent papers in the literature pertaining to one of the above topics.