an introduction to neuroscience
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An Introduction to Neuroscience. W hat exactly are we talking about? Robert Vick, Ph.D. Department of Biology Elon University. Disclaimer. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
An Introduction to Neuroscience
What exactly are we talking about?
Robert Vick, Ph.D.Department of Biology
Elon University
Disclaimer I am a physiologist with an interest in
cellular neurochemistry. I have tried to include as many aspects of neuroscience as I can, and this presentation should be taken with a grain of salt. I apologize to any one, group, or discipline that I may not have given adequate due to. Any perceived slight is unintentional.
Challenges Faced by Neuroscientists Understand the biological basis of
Consciousness Perception Actions Learning Memory Disease
Challenges Faced by Neuroscientists Are these processes localized to specific
regions of the brain? If so, how does the anatomy and physiology of
these specific regions work? What level (region, sub region, neuron) do we
need to go to understand? Are these processes a collective property of
the whole brain?
Challenges Faced by Neuroscientists How does the genetics of an organism
influence behavior or perceptions or memory, etc?
How does previous experience alter the way the brain processes and perceive subsequent events?
What Do Neuroscientists Study? Medical problems
Diseases, treatments Comparative animal problems
Sensory, behavior Psychological problems
Learning and memory, behavior, processing Exercise problems
Motivation, effective training techniques
Where Do You Find a Neuroscientist? Hospitals and Medical Centers Government
FDA Colleges and Universities Pharmaceutical companies Private research organizations
What part of the organism do we study? Cellular Level
CNS v PNS Neurons Glia
Astrocytes v Fibroblasts Oligodendrocytes v Schwann Cells Microglia Ependymal cells
What part of the organism do we study?
What part of the organism do we study? Neurochemistry
Neurotransmitters Acetylcholine, Catecholamines, Neuropeptides,
Histamines, etc. Neuropharmachology
Tylenol, Imitrex, Tegretol, etc. Behavioral Neurochemistry
Psychotic disorders, Affective disorders, Anxiety, Learning and Memory
What part of the organism do we study?
What part of the organism do we study? Neurophysiology
Electrical signaling Action potentials Vm=RT/zF ln Co/Ci
Neural circuitry Muscle control, Reflexes, Learning, Memory Processing sensory inputs and making sense of
them
What part of the organism do we study? Neurophysiology
How the brain controls the musculature Process that control what the brain is used for –
sleep and attention How the brain processes and uses language
What part of the organism do we study?
What part of the organism do we study? Neuroanatomy
Gross level Neurohistology
What part of the organism do we study?
Neurobiology - Multidisciplinary Molecular Biology Biochemistry Cell Biology Physiology Anatomy Behavior
What organisms do we use? Honey bee Fruit fly C. elegans Aplysia Octopus Rodents Humans
A Neuroscience Example Multiple sclerosis
Chronic progressive autoimmune disease that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord
Affects 400,000 in the US and 2.5 million people worldwide
2-3 times as many women are affected as men
Multiple Sclerosis Molecular biology approach
Try to determine what is attacking the myelin sheath
Multiple Sclerosis Biochemical/Cell Biology
An attack on the myelin in the CNS May be viral, may be autoimmune
Scarring occurs and may form sclerotic areas Try to determine what is being exposed in
the myelin to trigger an immune response Lipid/protein biochemistry Immunology
Multiple Sclerosis Physiologic
Damage can slow or block electrical nerve signals that control muscle coordination, strength, sensation, and vision
MS patients are extremely heat sensitive – can be a cause of death
Examine the pathways that are being affected
Multiple Sclerosis Pharmachologic
Drugs that may lessen the effects of the disease Beta interferon, Copaxone, Tysabri, Novantrone
Drugs that may help with quality of life Corticosteroids, muscle relaxants, fatigue
reduction, bladder issues
Multiple Sclerosis Anatomically
Identify areas of insult Identify exactly what is being changed Identify if treatments are having a positive or
negative effect on the disease
Support the National MS Society
Other neurological diseases in the US Alzheimer’s disease – 3 million and
increasing Parkinson’s disease – 500,000 Depression – 15 million Schizophrenia – 2 million Stroke – 100,000 per year Addiction
Recap Society for Neuroscience
Over 30,000 attendees at 2007 San Diego meeting
2008 meeting is in Washington DC in November Variety of levels and topics to study Probably someone you know has some
connection to neuroscience
Acknowledgments Kandel, Schwartz, and Jessell (1991) Principles of Neural Science 3 ed Matthews (2002) Neurobiology 2ed Enchantedlearning.com Siegel, Agranof, Albers, Molinoff (1989) Basic Neurochemistry 4ed National Multiple Sclerosis Society MIT open courseware: 901 An Introduction to Neuroscience http://ocw.mit.edu Belmonte and Thoroughman Introduction to Neuroscience
http://www.mattababby.org Clancy, Barbara An Introduction to Neuroscience
http://faulty.uca.edu/~bclancy/bio3370.html The Wizard of Oz (1939) www.youtube.com Pinky and the Brain www.youtube.com National Society for Neuroscience Perron et al (1997) Molecular Identification of a Novel Retrovirus Repeatedly
Isolated from Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. PNAS 94(14):7583-7588