Neuroscience Graduate Program

NRSC 200A

Fundamentals of Neuroscience: Molecular and cellular mechanisms

DATES	TOPIC	READING
Sept 26	Course organization, Neurons and electrical signaling	Nicholls: 3-22
Oct 1, 3	Ion channels Web Links:  - Erwin Neher & Bert Sakmann  - Roderick MacKinnon - Nobel lecture 2003	Nicholls: 63-97
Oct 8	Resting Membrane Potential Web Links: - Julius Bernstein: pioneer neurobiologist and biophysicist	Nicholls: 99-111, 143-147
Oct 10, 15	Action potentials Web Links:    - Bernstein's differential rheotome - 3D rotatable image    - Alan Hodgkin & Andrew Huxley   - Alan Hodgkin's obituary 1998   - Andrew Huxley - 2007 interview (YouTube)    - Reconstruction of the action potential    - The Brunsviga 20 mechanical calculator    - Tetrodotoxin - pufferfish venom   -  Hodgkin-Huxley model implemented in MS Excel (downloadable)-    - The Hodgkin-Huxley Model (explained clearly by W.J. Heitler of Univ. of St. Andrews)	Nicholls: 113-128
Oct 17	Neurons as conductors of electricity Take Home Exam 1 available on iLearn Oct 17.  Turn in by Oct 22.	Nicholls: 129-141
Oct 22, 24	Neuroglia	Nicholls: 159-180
Oct 29, 31	Synaptic transmission I:   - electrical and "direct" (ionotropic) chemical transmission	Nicholls: 185-210
Nov 5, 7	Synaptic transmission II: - "indirect" (metabotropic) chemical transmission & neuromodulation  Web Links:  - Alfred Gilman & Martin Rodbell	Nicholls: 213-240
Nov 12, 14	Synaptic transmission III:     - mechanisms of transmitter release  Web Links:      - Presynaptic proteins, synaptic vesicle docking & membrane fusion     - Bernard Katz, Nobel Prize Lecture (Nobel Prize site)     - Bernard Katz 2003 obituary Take Home Exam 2 available on iLearn Nov 14.  Turn in by Nov 19.	Nicholls: 243-271
Nov 19, 21	Sensory receptors and transduction I:     - overview & mechanoreceptors  Web Links:    - Georg von Békésy - Nobel Prize award ceremony speech   - 2018 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience: A conversation with Robert Fettiplace, James Hudspeth and Chritine Petit	Nicholls: 385-397, 433-436, 453-464
Nov 26	Sensory receptors and transduction II:     - chemoreceptors, thermoreceptors & nociceptors  Web Links:     - Our Chemical Senses: Olfaction    - Our Chemical Senses: Taste     - Taste (Brainfacts.org) TERM PAPER DUE	Nicholls: 397-404
Dec 3, 5	Sensory receptors and transduction III:     - photoreceptors & retinal signaling  Web Links:   - Ragnar Granit, H.K. Hartline & George Wald  - Light and Time: The Discovery of a New Photoreceptor System within the Eye (Brainfacts.org)  - A retinal implant that is more effective against blindness 2018 Take Home Exam 3 available on iLearn Dec 5.  Turn in by Dec 10 (Tues of Finals Week, by 5 pm).	Nicholls: 407-430

 

TEXTBOOK: 

Nicholls et al., From Neuron to Brain, 5th Ed., Sinauer Associates, 2012. 
 

 

 

 

How brain myelin damage could lead to seizures in MS 
Study may explain why some people living with multiple sclerosis experience epileptic seizures

 

Iqbal Pittalwala 

October 8, 2025 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Tie That Binds

 

August 28, 2025 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psychologist elected fellow of American Psychological Association 

 

Iqbal Pittalwala 

August 11, 2025 

 

 

How a common brain parasite disrupts neural communication 
UCR study on how Toxoplasma gondii manipulates brain cells lays groundwork for future clinical research and therapies 

 

Iqbal Pittalwala 

June 18, 2025 

 

 

 

 

 

Epilepsy reserach rewarded with fellowship and grant

 

Iqbal Pittalwala 

June 17, 2025 

 

 

Brain Awareness Day draws hundreds of visitors to campus 
Organized by volunteers, the event aims to educate students on how the brain works 

 

Iqbal Pittalwala 

April 29, 2025 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DNA organization offers clues for advancing stem cell therapy

UC Riverside-led study could help advance treatments for injuries, aging, and diseases

Iqbal Pittalwala

April 16, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enhancing mosquito repellent effectiveness
Two NIH grants to UC Riverside support a machine learning approach to identify insect repellents

Iqbal Pittalwala

March 5, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

NIH grant supports new research on neurodevelopmental disorders
Project will focus on understanding mechanisms of hyperexcitability and seizures

 

Iqbal Pittalwala 

February 29, 2024 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biomedical scientist to investigate endocannabinoids as potential treatment for cocain addiction relapse 

 

Iqbal Pittalwala 

January 13, 2025 

 

 

Study links gene regulating brain circuit formation to autism and seizures
Collaborative research paves the way for future treatments to alleviate autism and epilepsy symptoms

 

Iqbal Pittalwala 

January 8, 2025 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Study of perception and memory in older adults will improve understanding of dementias 
UC Riverside scientists will use a $2 million NIH grant to study the brain's locus coeruleus 

Holly Ober

June 7, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversifying the sciences 
UC Riverside's Khaleel Razak and Frances Sladek receive grants from the University of California-Hispanic Serving Institutions Doctoral Diversity Initiative 

 

Iqbal Pittalwala

July 24, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

Neurons are genetically programmed to have long lives 
UC Riverside-led study identifies mechanism that prevents death of neurons

 

Iqbal Pittalwala

July 24, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

A match made in neural heaven: How a neuron grows an axon 
Scientists unlock new molecular secrets to unravel the mystery 

 

Stacy Kish 

February 4, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among body shapes, pears are healthier than apples
UC Riverside mouse study finds male obesity is linked to brain inflammation 

 

Iqbal Pittalwala 

September 12, 2018 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neuroscientist receives Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in nueroscience
Hongdian Yang is UC Riverside's first recipient of the prestigious fellowship 

 

Iqbal Pittalwala 

June 6, 2018