Intro. to Neuroscience: Behavioral Neuroscience (2011-2012)
Lecturers: Dr. Nachum Ulanovsky, Dr. Tali Kimchi, Dr. Rony Paz
Time: The 2nd semester of 2011-2012. Meetings take place on Wednesdays, between 9–12 am, FGS room C (unless indicated otherwise).
This course will introduce students to Behavioral Neuroscience, first by providing an in-depth introduction to behavior, and then focusing on two different approaches that are common in the field: One approach ("neuropsychological") is to study animals in artificial well-controlled tasks, the other ("neuroethological") approach utilizes the animal's natural behaviors. We will introduce general aspects, and will contrast and compare these two approaches by focusing on several well-studied, classic example systems.
Part A: Introduction to Brain and Behavior (Kimchi, Ulanovsky) | |
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1. | Introduction to Behavior (Kimchi). (14/3/2012) |
2. | Sensory ecology: evolutionary adaptations of animal sensory systems to their environment (Ulanovsky). (21/3/2012) [PDF] |
3. | Hormonal mechanisms of behavior. Sexual behaviors and their neural mechanisms (Kimchi). (28/3/2012) |
4. | Animal models of social disorders (Kimchi). (4/4/2012) |
Part B: Neural mechanisms of Behavior – the Neuroethological approach (Ulanovsky) | |
5. | Basic concepts: neuroscience and neuroethology. Example system #1: Electrolocation in weakly-electric fish. (18/4/2012) [PDF] |
6. | Example system #2: The bird song system: behavior, neuroanatomy, physiology, models. (Guest lecture by: Dr. Liora Las) (24/4/2012 – NOTE: Tuesday, 9-11, FGS Room C) [PDF] |
7. | Example system #3: Multisensory integration in the brain of the barn owl. (Guest lecture by: Dr. Yoram Gutfreund, Technion) (2/5/2012) [PDF] |
8. | Example system #4: Echolocation in bats: behavior, principles of biosonar signal design, neural processing. (9/5/2012) [PDF] |
9. | Example system #5: Neurobiology of spatial cognition. Introduction to spatial memory, orientation and navigation: (i) Navigational strategies in different animals. (ii) Sensory mechanisms of navigation: vision, magnetic navigation, etc. The navigation circuits in the mammalian brain: Place cells, grid cells, head-direction cells. (16/5/2012) [PDF] |
Part C: Neural mechanisms of Behavior – the Neuropsychological approach (Paz) | |
10. | Introduction: Basic concepts, standard behavioral tasks. Example system #6: The representation and production of voluntary movement in the brain. Computational models of artificial and natural movements. (30/5/2012) [PDF] |
11. | Example system #7: Reinforcement Learning. Reward and its representation in neural circuits. (Guest lecture by: Dr. Genela Morris, Haifa University) (6/6/2012) [PDF] |
12. | Example system #8: Fear and its representation in neural circuits. (13/6/2012) [PDF] |
Course requirements: Final exam.
Bibliography
We will use three main textbooks in this course:
- Behavioral Neurobiology, Carew J. (Sinauer, 2000)
- Behavioral Neurobiology: An Integrative Approach, Zupanc G. (Oxford, 2004)
- Learning and Behavior, Bouton M. (Sinauer, 2007)
Additional material for some of the lectures is covered in the following books:
- The Computational Neurobiology of Reaching and Pointing, Shadmehr R. and Wise S. (MIT, 2005)
- Sensory Ecology, Dusenbery D. (Freeman, 1992)
- An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology, 3rd ed., Nelson R. (Sinauer, 2005)
- Neuroeconomics: Decision making and the Brain, Glimcher P. et al. (Academic Press, 2008)