9.01
Introduction to Neuroscience
Introduction to the mammalian nervous system, with emphasis on the structure and function of the human brain. Topics include the function of nerve cells, sensory systems, control of movement, learning and memory, and diseases of the brain.
Fall 2007
This course is an introduction to the mammalian nervous system, with emphasis on the structure and function of the human brain. Topics include the function of nerve cells, sensory systems, control of movement, learning and memory, and diseases of the brain.
Readings
- WEEK #: 1 · TOPICS: Introduction · LECTURERS: Seung · READINGS: Chapter 1
- WEEK #: 2 · TOPICS: Cellular neuroanatomy: neurons and glia · LECTURERS: Bear · READINGS: Chapter 2
- WEEK #: 3 · TOPICS: Neurophysiology 2: action potential · LECTURERS: Bear · READINGS: Chapter 4
- WEEK #: 4 · TOPICS: Synaptic transmission 2: chemistry · LECTURERS: Cooke · READINGS: Chapter 6
- WEEK #: 5 (cont.) · TOPICS: Organization of the vertebrate brain · LECTURERS: Graybiel · READINGS: Chapter 7
- WEEK #: 6 · TOPICS: Vision 1: the eye · LECTURERS: Seung · READINGS: Chapter 9
- Seung Chapter 10
- WEEK #: 8 · TOPICS: Hearing · LECTURERS: Seung · READINGS: Chapter 11
- WEEK #: 9 · TOPICS: Motor system 1 · LECTURERS: Seung · READINGS: Chapter 13
- WEEK #: 11 · TOPICS: Chemical control of brain 1 · LECTURERS: Bear · READINGS: Chapter 15
- WEEK #: 12 · TOPICS: Brain disorders · LECTURERS: Tsai · READINGS: Chapter 22
- WEEK #: 13 · TOPICS: Chemical control of brain 2 motivation · LECTURERS: Bear · READINGS: Chapters 15 and 16
- WEEK #: 14 · TOPICS: Attention · LECTURERS: Desimone · READINGS: Chapter 21
- WEEK #: 15 · TOPICS: Emotion · LECTURERS: Seung · READINGS: Chapter 18
Fall 2003 · Neuroscience and Behavior
Topics
- Introduction to Brain-behavior Studies
- History and Goals, II
- History and Goals, III
- History and Goals, IV
- Cellular Mechanisms
- Neuronal Conduction and Transmission
- Synapses
- Introduction to CNS and its Evolution
- Evolution (cont.)
- Brain Subdivisions
- Transection Effects
- Spinal Cord
- Hindbrain and Midbrain
- Midbrain and Forebrain
- Development of CNS, Introduction
- Cell migration
- Influences on Axon Growth
- Axonal Sprouting and Regeneration
- Motor System, 1
- Motor System, 2
- Motor System, 3
- Motor 4: Rythmic Outputs
- Rhythms of Activity
- Sleep and Waking (cont.)
- Habituation, Novelty Responses
- Visual System 1: Anatomy, Ablations
- Visual System 2: Physiology (Orig: Ablation Effects)
- Visual System 3: Ablation Studies
- Visual System 4: Ablations (cont.) (Orig: Electrophysiology)
- Visual System Conclusion
- Auditory System
- Pain and Central Gray Area
- Hypothalamus and Feeding
- Drive, Reward
- Higher Functions
- Human Nature and Neuroscience
- Conclusion
Readings
- Rosenzweig, Mark R., Arnold L. Leiman, and S. Marc Breedlove. Biological Psychology . 3rd ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc., 2002. ISBN: 0878937099.
- Gazzaniga, Michael S., Richard B. Ivry, and George R. Mangun. Cognitive Neuroscience . The Biology of the Mind . New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 1998. ISBN: 0393972194.
- Nauta, Walle J. H., and Michael Feirtag. Fundamental Neuroanatomy . New York, NY: Freeman, 1986. ISBN: 0716717239.
- Wolpert, Lewis. The Triumph of the Embryo . New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. ISBN: 0198542437.
- Gazzaniga, chapter 3b.
- Gazzaniga, chapters 2a and 3a.
- Nauta and Feirtag, chapters 2-3.
- Gazzaniga, chapters 2a, 2b, and 3a.
- Rosenzweig, chapters 3-4 and 8.
- Nauta and Feirtag, chapter 2.
- Gazzaniga, chapter 2b.
- Nauta and Feirtag, chapters 1-4.
- Nauta and Feirtag, chapters 1-3.
- Nauta and Feirtag, chapters 2-3 and 5-10a.
- Gazzaniga, chapter 2c.
- Wolpert, chapter 14.
- Channels of Conduction Gazzaniga, chapter 3b.
- Rosenzweig, chapters 2 and 8.
- Rosenzweig, chapters 2, 5, and 8.
- Rosenzweig, chapter 2.
- LEC #: 13 · TOPICS: Hindbrain and Midbrain · readings: Gazzaniga, chapter 3b.
- LEC #: 14 · TOPICS: Midbrain and Forebrain · readings: Recommended
- Nauta and Feirtag, chapters 5-10a.
- Wolpert, chapters 2-3.
- Axon Growth Stages Rosenzweig, chapter 7.
- Wolpert, chapters 2-3, 8, and 14-15.
- LEC #: 17 · TOPICS: Influences on Axon Growth · readings: Rosenzweig, chapter 7.
- Wolpert, chapter 8 and 15.
- LEC #: 18 · TOPICS: Axonal Sprouting and Regeneration · readings: Rosenzweig, chapter 7.
- Rosenzweig, chapter 11a, part 1.
- Gazzaniga, chapter 10.
- Nauta and Feirtag, chapter 7a.
- Rosenzweig, chapter 11a and 11b.
- Rosenzweig, chapter 11b.
- Klawans, Harold L. “Still Smiling (Wilson’s Disease).” Chapter 2 in Newton’s Madness, Further Tales of Clinical Neurology . 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1990, pp. 19-29. ISBN: 0060162562.
- ———. “The Lizard (Parkinson’s Disease).” Chapter 5 in Newton’s Madness, Further Tales of Clinical Neurology . 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1990, pp. 53-65. ISBN: 0060162562.
- ———. “The Subject at Risk (Huntington’s Chorea).” Chapter 15 in Newton’s Madness, Further Tales of Clinical Neurology . 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1990, pp. 140-150. ISBN: 0060162562.
- ———. “She could have Danced all Night (Huntington’s Chorea).” Chapter 16 in Newton’s Madness, Further Tales of Clinical Neurology . 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1990, pp. 151-157. ISBN: 0060162562.
- ———. “The Girl with Dancing Eyes (Serotonin-induced Myoclonus).” Chapter 18 in Newton’s Madness, Further Tales of Clinical Neurology . 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1990, pp. 165-173. ISBN: 0060162562.
- LEC #: 22 · TOPICS: Motor 4: Rythmic Outputs · readings: Gazzaniga, chapter 3b.
- ———, chapter 14.
- Dowling, John E. “Control of Rhythmic Motor Behavior.” Chapter 10 in Neurons and Networks, An Introduction to Neuroscience . Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1992, pp. 217-237. ISBN: 0674608208.
- LEC #: 24 · TOPICS: Sleep and Waking (cont.) · readings: Gazzaniga, chapter 3b.
- Rosenzweig, chapter 14.
- LEC #: 25 · TOPICS: Habituation, Novelty Responses · readings: Gazzaniga, chapter 3b.
- Rosenzweig, chapters 8a, 10, and 18, pp. 581-2.
- Rosenzweig, chapter 10.
- LEC #: 28 · TOPICS: Visual System 3: Ablation Studies · readings: Gazzaniga, chapter 3b.
- LEC #: 29 · TOPICS: Visual System 4: Ablations (cont.) (Orig: Electrophysiology) · readings: Gazzaniga, chapters 3b and 4.
- LEC #: 31 · TOPICS: Auditory System · readings: Gazzaniga, chapters 3b and 4-5.
- Rosenzweig, chapter 9.
- LEC #: 32 · TOPICS: Pain and Central Gray Area · readings: Gazzaniga, chapters 3b and 4-5.
- Rosenzweig, chapters 6, 8, 9, 12, and 15.
- Rosenzweig, chapters 12-13 and 15.
- Rosenzweig, chapters 12-13, 15, 17-19, and Afterward.
- Gazzaniga, chapters 7-9 and 11
- Review Rosenzweig, chapters 17-19 and Afterward.
- Gazzaniga, chapters 7-9 and 11.
- Rosenzweig, chapter 16.
- TOPICS: Introduction · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 1, pp. 1-21. (2,3)
- Gazzaniga, chapter 1, pp. 1-21. (3)
- TOPICS: Neural Units · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 3, pp. 55-85. (5-7)
- ———, chapter 4, pp. 87-115. (5-7)
- Gazzaniga, chapter 2b, pp. 28-44. (5-6)
- Organizational Principles Rosenzweig, chapter 8, pp. 213-235. (6, 10-11)
- ———, chapter 6, pp. 149-175. (7-8)
- Gazzaniga, chapter 3b, pp. 75-120. (3, 10-13, 20-38)
- Gazzaniga, chapter 2c, pp. 44-68. (9-10)
- TOPICS: Introduction to Neuroanatomy · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 2, pp. 25-26. (4-5, 9-13)
- Gazzaniga, chapter 2, pp. 23-38. (4-5)
- ———, chapter 3a, pp. 69-74. (4-5)
- Nauta and Feirtag, chapter 1, pp. 1-11. (7-8)
- ———, chapter 2, pp. 12-38. (4-6)
- ———, chapter 3, pp. 39-49. (4-5, 7-13)
- ———, chapter 4, pp. 50-61. (7)
- TOPICS: Non-neural Communication · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 5, pp. 117-146. (5, 11)
- TOPICS: Neuroanatomy, (cont.): Development · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 7, pp. 177-210. (15-18)
- Wolpert, chapter 2, pp. 11-28. (15-16)
- ———, chapter 3, pp. 31-58. (15-16)
- ———, chapter 8, pp. 119-133. (16-17)
- ———, chapter 14, pp. 183-197. (9,16)
- ———, chapter 15, pp. 199-203. (16-17)
- Nauta and Feirtag, chapters 5-10a, pp. 63-143. (9-14)
- TOPICS: Motor Control 1: Reflexes · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 11a, pp. 323-338. (19-20)
- Bizzi, E., S. F. Giszter, E. Loeb, F. A. Mussa-Ivaldi, and P. Saltiel. “Modular Organization of Motor Behavior in the Frog’s Spinal Cord.” Trends in Neuroscience 18, no. 10 (October 1995): 442-446. (19)
- Nauta and Feirtag, chapter 7a, pp. 91-94. (19-20)
- TOPICS: Motor Control 2: Higher Systems · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 11b, pp. 338-359. (20-21)
- Gazzaniga, chapter 10, pp. 371-421. (19-21)
- Klawans, Harold L. Newton’s Madness, Further Tales of Clinical Neurology . 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1990, pp. 19-29. ISBN: 0060162562. (21)
- ———. “Still Smiling (Wilson’s Disease).” Chapter 2 in Newton’s Madness, Further Tales of Clinical Neurology . 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1990, pp. 19-29. ISBN: 0060162562.
- TOPICS: Motor Control 3: Rhythms of Central Origin · READINGS: Rosenzweig, “Oscillatory Circuits….,” pp. 80-81 and 346-349. (23)
- ———, chapter 14, pp. 431-465. (23-25)
- Dowling, John E. “Control of Rhythmic Motor Behavior.” Chapter 10 in Neurons and Networks, An Introduction to Neuroscience . Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1992, pp. 217-237. ISBN: 0674608208. (23-24)
- TOPICS: Sensory Systems: General · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 8a, pp. 213-235. (26)
- TOPICS: Sensory Systems: Vision, Audition, Somatic Sensations, Chemical Senses · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 10, pp. 281-321. (26-30)
- ———, chapter 9, pp. 247-269. (31-32)
- ———, chapter 8, pp. 213-245. (33)
- ———, chapter 9, pp. 269-279. (33)
- Gazzaniga, chapter 4, pp. 121-161. (26, 29-33)
- ———, chapter 5, pp. 163-205. (31-32)
- TOPICS: Limbic System: Visceral Regulation, Regulation of Motivations and Emotional Behavior · READINGS: Handout: Two arousal systems (Limbic and Non-limbic) (32-33)
- Rosenzweig, chapter 12, pp. 363-398 and 139-140. (33-36)
- ———, chapter 13, pp. 399-432. (34-36)
- ———, chapter 15, pp. 469-501. (33, 34-36)
- TOPICS: Cognitive Neuroscience · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 17, pp. 537-570. (36-38)
- ———, chapter 18, pp. 571-605. (36-38)
- ———, chapter 19, pp. 607-642. (36-38)
- Gazzaniga, chapters 7, 8, 9, and 11. (36-38)
- TOPICS: Abnormalities of Higher Control · READINGS: Rosenzweig, chapter 16, pp. 503-534. (37-38)
- TOPICS: Review · READINGS: Rosenzweig, Glossary, G-1 - G-26. (Students should know most of these terms by the end of the semester.) They are also on the CD that comes with your book.
- Gazzaniga, Michael S., Richard B. Ivry, and George R. Mangun. Cognitive Neuroscience. The Biology of the Mind . New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 1998. ISBN: 0393972194.
- Nauta, Walle J. H., and Michael Feirtag. Fundamental Neuroanatomy . Anatomical drawings by Carol Donner. New York, NY: W.H. Freeman, 1986. ISBN: 0716717220. (Currently out of print)
- Wolpert, Lewis. The Triumph of the Embryo . With illustrations drawn by Debra Skinner. Oxford (England); New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. ISBN: 0198542437.
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: None U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. REST
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2007
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2003
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.