General Information
This course is intended to provide a general introduction to the field of neurobiology and a foundation for other, more advanced courses in the field. The course (4-0-6) usually includes three lectures and one discussion section each week. A lecture schedule is provided herewith; the times and locations of the sections will be determined from information provided by a questionnaire distributed at the initial lecture. Lectures will be held in the 1st Floor Broad Center Lecture Hall.
Class Website
Students are responsible for looking at the website to see late-breaking news, such as information about problem sets, office hours, and sections. Lecture notes are posted there. Often lecture images will be posted before lectures.
Reading
The text for the course is Principles of Neural Science by Kandel, Schwartz, and Jessel, 5th edition (McGraw Hill).
Good Websites
- Pancho Bezanilla's simulations of ion channels and excitable membranes
- The Neuron simulation environment and the Neuron demos used in class
Grading Policies
There will be two examinations: a midterm, and a final. Midterm and final exams include material from lectures and assigned readings. Material discussed in discussion sections will be helpful on the exams. Both examinations are open book, open notes, and take home; but they do have time limits. No collaboration is allowed for exams. You may not consult any homework or exams from previous years.
Final grades will computed on the following basis:
| In-class quizzes | 10% |
| Recitation section and problem sets | 30% |
| Midterm examination | 30% |
| Final examination | 30% |
Grades for the recitation section and problem sets will be computed as follows:
- You will be graded for attendance and participation at discussion section (1 point per section). Perfect attendance and participation can potentially earn 7 points; the surplus point is extra credit.
- Graduate students are graded independently of undergraduates (curves are computed separately), so that the latter are not penalized by the greater experience of the former, or vice versa.
- Late problem set policy: We take our instructions from the dean. In the absence of instructions from the dean, credit C(n) at day n past the due date = C(0)(1 - n/10), for 1 ≤ n ≤ 10.
Academic Conduct Guide
Course: Bi 150
Term: Fall 2015
Instructors: Ralph Adolphs, Henry Lester
Head TA: Jaron Colas
The sheet below outlines the specific course policies for problem sets and exams in Bi 150.If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
| While working, you may consult: | PS | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Required texts | √ | √ |
| Recommended texts | √ | √ |
| Reference books (CRC, Merck Index, etc.) | √ | √ |
| Any other texts | √ | √ |
| Comments: There are no prerequisites for the course. | ||
| Internet use | PS | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| You may use the internet. | √ | |
| Comments: | ||
| As for notes, you may use: | PS | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Your class notes (taken in lecture) | √ | √ |
| Hand copies of the class notes of others | √ | √ |
| The class notes of others (original or Xeroxed) | ||
| Anything written in your own hand | √ | √ |
| Class handouts | √ | √ |
| TA/section handouts | √ | √ |
| Homework/exams of this year | √ | |
| Comments: You may not consult any homeworks or exams from previous years. | ||
| For computational aides, you may use: | PS | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Four function/scientific calculators | √ | √ |
| Graphing calculators | √ | √ |
| Symbolic manipulators | √ | √ |
| Mathematical reference tables (integrals, Laplace transforms, etc.) | √ | √ |
| Comments: | ||
| The following types of collaboration are allowed: | PS | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Basic discussion of the problems | √ | |
| Look at communal materials while writing up solutions | √ | |
| Look at other’s non-communal work (i.e. writeups) | ||
| Turn in a set with more than one name on it | ||
| Comments: No collaboration on exams. Homework must be written by you and not copied from someone else. | ||