DISORDERS AND DISEASES OF THE BRAIN

                                                Fall 2000
                                              Course Syllabus
                                                           ICOS 326

Prerequisites:  First Semester introductory biology (Bio 003)

Recommendations: Introductory psychology and physiological psychology
 

This course is designed to provide a survey of neuroscience and some of the diseases and disorders that affect the brain.  During the course of the semester, we will review neuroanatomy and cellular neuroscience.  With this base of knowledge, we will examine several diseases and disorders that affect the cognitive processes of the brain.  The topics will be discussed both in terms of the underlying cellular and molecular causes as well as the observed cognitive effects.  Instructors will assign relevant readings for each topic.

Grading will consist of five quizzes (each 15% of the final grade), attendance and class participation (5% of the final grade) and a 10 page paper on a topic of the student's choice (20% of the final grade).  For the paper, the student will work with one of the instructors to select and critically review the relevant articles from the literature and suggest future directions for research in that field.

              Contact Information:  Amy Durham:         durhama@gusun.georgetown.edu
                                              John Agnew:           jagnew@giccs.georgetown.edu
                                              Darlene Howard:     howardd@gunet.georgetown.edu
                                              Ben Walker:            walerbr@gusun.georgetown.edu
 

Week 1  1. Introduction (Amy and John)
             2. Neuroanatomy of the Sensory System (Nicky)

Week 2  3. Neuroanatomy of the Motor System (Jim)
             4. Neuroanatomy of the Cognitive System (Rachelle)

Week 3  5. What is a Neuron and How Does it Work (Rana)
             6. Signal Transduction (Rana)

Week 4  7. Apoptosis (Rochelle)
             8. TEST #1

Week 5  9. Parkinson's Disease (Amy)
             10. Huntington's Disease/ Tourette's Syndrome (Amy)

Week 6  11. Anxiety Disorders (Ali)
             12. Alzheimer's Disease (Meggan)

Week 7  13. TEST #2
            14. Memory Disorders (Karin)

Week 8
            15. Epilepsy (Kwame)
            16. Multiple Sclerosis (Kim)

Week 9  (Submit Paper Topic)
             17. Autism (Peter)
             18. TEST #3

Week 10
             19. Reading Disorders (John)
             20. Communication Disorders (Nicky)

Week 11
             21. Depression (Cherie)
             22. TEST #4

Week 12
             23. Schizophrenia (Cherie)
             24. Psychoactive drugs (Brandon)

Week 13
             25. Drug Addiction (Keith (?))
             26. Summary/ Review (Amy and John)

Week 14
             27. TEST #5
             28. Papers