Clinical Neuroscience: A Clinical and Pathological Perspective
NRSC 4072 FALL 2014
August 25th – December 12th 2014
MWF 1pm – 1.50pm
MUEN E113
Instructor Alison Vigers (email - vigers@colorado.edu)
Office hours Wednesdays 11am – 1pm Kitt West N136 (office # 303 492 5450)
NRSC 4072
Provides a review of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and then explores how alterations in
these systems can result in neurologic or psychiatric disorders. Emphasizes pathological neuroanatomy,
neurophysiology, and neuropharmacology, which is essential for understanding problems related to health and
disease. Prereqs., PSYC/NRSC 4052 or PSYC 2012 or NRSC 2100 and one of the following sequences of courses:
EBIO 1210 and 1220, MCDB 1150 and 2150, or MCDB 1150 and EBIO 1220. Same as NRSC 5072. Formerly PSYC
4072.
Textbook “Basic Clinical Neuroscience” by Young, Young & Tolvert. I recommend you get a copy of this textbook as
we will use it during the class. It covers the anatomy well. I will supplement the textbook with additional material
from recent publications. Details about purchasing or renting a textbook are posted on D2L.
GRADING
Exams (3 – 100 points each, drop lowest)
Cumulative final exam
Neuronal disease paper
Neuronal disease presentation
In-class participation
_______________
TOTAL
200
150
40
30
80
________
500
1. Each exam during the semester is worth 100 points. There will be 3 exams and the lowest exam score will be
dropped. There will be no makeup exams.
2. The final exam is cumulative, worth 150 points and all students are required to take the final.
3. Neuronal disease paper is due on D2L by 9am Monday December 1st and a hard copy is due in class that
day. More details about this project are on a separate sheet and we will discuss the project in class.
4. Group neuronal disease presentations will be in class during the last 2 weeks of the semester. Dates for
each group presentation will be assigned during the semester. More details about this project are on a
separate sheet and we will discuss the project in class.
5. Participation points
a) 60 participation points will be awarded for participation during and before paper discussion classes.
Papers will be assigned early in the week and will be discussed on Fridays. Two questions (each worth
2.5 points) will be posted on D2L that you are expected to answer BEFORE class the day of the
discussion. You can get a further 2.5 points by actively joining in the paper discussions during class.
b) 20 participation points will be awarded for participation during group presentations. You will be
expected to write down a brief 2-sentence summary of the group presentations each day and hand it in
at the end of class. Each summary paragraph is worth 2 points and points may also be awarded for
active discussion during the presentation.
Class schedule
All chapters and page # s from “Basic Clinical Neuroscience” by Young, Young & Tolbert
Unit 1 Nervous system basics
Week 1
Intro and welcome. Describe course, choose groups for presentations
8/25 – 29
Cells of the nervous system - neurons / glia
CNS anatomy 1 spinal cord & brainstem
Week 2 LABOR day
9/1 – 5 CNS anatomy 2 forebrain / diencephalon
Genetics and neuroscience
Discussion paper 1
ch1 p1 – 11
ch 2 & 3 p15 - 35
ch 4
p 37 - 45
Week 3 Electrical properties , ion channels
9/8 – 12
Synapses - presynaptic / post synaptic
Neurotransmitters 1
Discussion paper 2
Week 4
9/15 – 19
Neurotransmitters 2
Intracellular signaling
Plasticity
Discussion paper 3
Week 5
Monday 9/22 EXAM 1 Nervous system basics
UNIT 2 Motor and sensory systems
9/24 – 26
Motor systems 1 LMN MS, ALS,
Motor systems 2 UMN
ch5 p47 - 63
ch6 & 7 p 65 - 85
Week 6
9/29 – 10/3
ch 8 p87 - 101
ch 9 p 103 - 119
Basal ganglia control of motor systems
Cerebellar control of motor systems
Parkinsons , Huntingtons / motor diseases
Discussion paper 4
Week 7 Sensory systems – pain / analgesia / inflammation
10/6 – 10
Sensory systems – hearing / vestibular
Sensory systems – vision, chemical senses
Discussion paper 5
Week 8 Neurological tests / cranial nerves speaker??
10/13 – 17
Cranial nerves and brainstem anatomy
RF, sleep, arousal, coma
Discussion paper 6
Week 9
Monday 10/20 EXAM 2 Motor and sensory systems
Unit 3 Complex behavior and diseases – cognition, mood,
10/22-24
Autonomic system, hypothalamus and visceral control
Blood supply, CSF – stroke, migraine
ch 11 p129 - 127
ch12 & 13 p 157 - 174
ch14 & 15 p 175 - 199
ch 10 & 21 p 121 – 127, 261 - 274
ch 20 p 251 - 260
ch 18 & 19 p 229 - 250
ch 22 p 275 - 297
Week 10
10/27 – 31
Cortical and higher cognitive function – intro to cortical structure
Aphasia, Agnosia & Apraxia, personality change
Memory - Hippocampus Memory loss (HM)
Discussion paper 7
Week 11
Development of the nervous system
congenital abnormalities Autism, cerebral palsy, lissencephaly
Aging of the nervous system and dementia – Alzheimers, Prions
Repair, regeneration & plasticity in the nervous system - TBI, plasticity, PTSD
Discussion paper 8
11/3 – 7
Week 12
11/10 – 14
Mood & emotion Depression, bipolar, anxiety
Reinforcement Addiction, ADHD
Psychoses Schizophrenia
Discussion paper 9
Week 13
Seizures , Epilepsy
Wednesday 11/19 EXAM 3 Complex behavior and diseases
Friday Prepare presentations
ch 16 p 201 - 218
ch 17 p 219 - 228
ch 24 p299 - 307
ch 25 p 309 - 312
ch26 p 313 - 320
Week 14 11/24-28 Thanksgiving!!!
Week 15
Monday 12/1 PAPERS due on D2L
12/1- 5 Group Presentations
Week 16
12/8 - 12
Group Presentations
Friday 12/12 = review of semester
FINAL EXAM Wednesday December 17th 10.30am – 1pm
Students with disabilities. If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to your professor
a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner (for exam accommodations provide your letter at least one week
prior to the exam) so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on
documented disabilities. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or by e-mail at dsinfo@colorado.edu. If you
have a temporary medical condition or injury, see Temporary Injuries under Quick Links at Disability Services website
(http://disabilityservices.colorado.edu/) and discuss your needs with your professor.
Religious observances: Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to
deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled
exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, students who have religious obligations that conflict with
a scheduled exam must notify the instructors at least two weeks prior to the exam so that alternative arrangements
can be made. In this class, you will be able to drop one of the four hourly exams. If religious obligations will cause
you to miss more than one exam, contact the professor within the first 2 weeks of classes to make arrangements.
See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html
Appropriate classroom behavior: Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate
learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline.
Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with
differences of race, color, culture, religion, creed, politics, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender, gender
identity and gender expression, age, disability, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the
student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please
advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See
policies at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at
http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
Discrimination and Harassment: The University of Colorado Boulder (CU-Boulder) is committed to maintaining a
positive learning, working, and living environment. The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in admission and
access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities. (Regent Law, Article 10,
amended 11/8/2001). CU-Boulder will not tolerate acts of discrimination or harassment based upon Protected
Classes or related retaliation against or by any employee or student. For purposes of this CU-Boulder policy,
"Protected Classes" refers to race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or veteran status. Individuals who believe they have been
discriminated against should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the
Office of Student Conduct (OSC) at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies, and
the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained
at http://hr.colorado.edu/dh/
Honor Code: All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the
academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of
academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall
be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-735-2273). Students who are found to be in
violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and
non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other
information on the Honor Code can be found at
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at http://honorcode.colorado.edu
Changes to the schedule: I will endeavor to adhere to the schedule outlined above, but I do reserve the right to
make changes to the course, should circumstances arise that force me to do so. These changes may include grading
policies, assignments, exam formats or dates and/or any other course requirements.