.Cellular Basis of Learning & Memory.

.BIPN148.

.Prof. Anirvan Ghosh.

.Center Hall 214.

BIPN148 Final: Tuesday, 6/7/05, 9-11 am, Center 214
FINAL - Review Part I and Part II

.COURSE OUTLINE.
Cellular Basis of Learning and Memory
BIPN 148
Spring 2005
March 28-May 27

This course will examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie learning and memory. Topics covered will include animal models of learning, brain structures involved in learning, neurotransmitter systems and receptors involved in learning and synaptic plasticity, and biochemical mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. A solid background in cell and molecular biology is expected.

Prerequisites: BILD 1; BILD 2; BIBC 100 (may be taken concurrently); BIPN140 highly recommended.

Times:                      MWF at 10:00
Location:                   Center 214
Required Text:          Mechanisms of Memory, J. D. Sweatt (Elsevier)
Recommended          Memory, L.R. Squire and E.R. Kandel (Scientific American)
Grading:                    Midterm: 25%, Group paper and presentation: 25%, Final Exam: 50%
                                  Grading is on a curve.
Contact Information
Professors:
Anirvan Ghosh, Pacific Hall 1123, aghosh@ucsd.edu, 822 4142.
Massimo Scanziani, Pacific Hall 3115, massimo@ucsd.edu, 822 3839

TEACHING ASSISTANTS:
Aryn Gittis, agittis@salk.edu
Yael Shrager, yshrager@ucsd.edu
Danny Simpson, drsimpso@ucsd.edu

OFFICE HOURS

Teaching Assistants	Office Hours	Location
Aryn Gittis	Tues 5:30-630pm Wed. 11am-12noon	Both are in Pacific Hall 1115.
Yael Shrager	Thurs. 9-10am Thurs. 5-6pm	Stein Clinical Research room 343.
Danny Simpson	Mon. 11am	CLICS second floor.

COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1: Introduction to key concepts in learning and memory (Ghosh)

Chapter 1: Basics of psychological learning and memory theory
Chapter 2: Rodent models of learning and memory
March 28: Ghosh
March 30: Ghosh
April 1: Paper presentation: Gittis

Week 2: Role of Hippocampus in learning and memory (Ghosh)

Chapter 3: The hippocampus serves a role in multimodal information processing, and memory consolidation.
April 4: Ghosh; Student Groups assigned (exchange information)
April 6: Ghosh
April 8: Paper presentation: Shrager

Week 3: Organization of the glutamatergic synapse (Scanziani)

April 11: Scanziani
April 13: Scanziani
April 15: Paper presentation: Simpson

Week 4: Synaptic plasticity I (Scanziani)

Chapter 4: Long-term Potentiation as a physiological phenomenon.
April 18: No class
April 20: Scanziani
April 22: Student presentations: Groups 1, 2

Week 5: Synaptic plasticity II (Scanziani)

Chapter 5: Complexities of Long-term Potentiation.
April 25: Scanziani
April 27: Scanziani
April 29: Midterm exam

Week 6: Biochemical mechanisms of LTP induction: Role of CaM kinase II (Ghosh)

Chapter 6: The biochemistry of LTP induction.
May 2: No class
May 4: Ghosh
May 6: Student Presentations: Groups 3, 4

Week 7: Biochemical mechanisms of LTP expression: Receptor trafficking (Ghosh)

Chapter 7. Biochemical mechanisms for short-term information storage at the cellular level.
May 9: Ghosh
May 11: Ghosh
May 13: Student Presentations: Groups 5, 6

Week 8: Biochemical mechanisms of long-term memory: Transcriptional mechanisms (Ghosh)

Chapter 8. Biochemical mechanisms for long-term information storage at the cellular level.
Chapter 9: LTP does not equal memory
May 16: Ghosh
May 18: Ghosh
May 20: Student Presentations: Groups 7, 8

Week 9: Genetic Analysis of Memory

May 23: Ghosh
May 25: Ghosh
May 27: Student Presentations: Groups 9, 10

Week 10: Class paper presentations

May 30: Memorial day (Holiday)
June 1: Student Presentations: Groups 11, 12
June 3: In-class review for Finals

Week 11: Finals

Instructions for Assignment
Student Group Presentation and Written Report (due in class on assigned presentation date)

25% of the grade will be determined by student group presentations and a written report. Students will be assigned to a group during the second week of class and assigned a paper or topic to present.

Each group will need to develop a plan to meet outside of class to discuss the paper and to come up with a presentation plan. In your first meeting you should come up with a division of responsibility (e.g. literature search, drafts for various sections, oral presenters etc).

Student Group Presentations

Each presentation should be 20 minutes long plus 5 minutes for questions at the end. Bring your presentation as a powerpoint file on a laptop, CD, or USB memory card. Only one student should present the paper on behalf of the group.

The presentation must include the following:
Background
Description of Methods
Description of Results
Interpretation of Results and Conclusions

The main goal of this assignment is to develop your skills in evaluating the scientific literature and expressing your views in an effective and coherent manner.

Written Report

On the day of your presentation your group must submit a written report on the paper being presented. The reports will be posted on the web as supplemental material for the class.

The report should be between 8 and 10 double-spaced pages in length. You may include up to two explanatory figures if you choose.

Your review should have the following sections:
Title of paper and names of all members of your group
Signatures of all members of the group indicating that all students listed contributed to the report
Background and statement of problem: 20 points
Description of approach and methods: 10 points
Description of results: 30 points
Discussion of findings and interpretation and conclusions: 20 points
References/Bibliography: 20 points

The report should begin with a brief summary of past work on the topic and introduce the paper being reviewed. This should be followed by the methods used and your review of the paper. Here you should summarize the main findings of the papers, and discuss whether the evidence justifies the principal conclusions of the study. If you discover weaknesses in the study, you should discuss those as well. End your report with a few concluding paragraphs that place the new findings in the context of previous work on the topic and identify areas that would be important to investigate in the future. Your report should refer to 5-10 key papers in the field that relate to the paper.

In preparing your report please pay close attention to the following:

1. Make sure the writing is grammatically correct and clear (have someone else read it before submitting it for grading).
2. Express your ideas simply and concisely (Strunk and White, "Elements of Style" is an excellent introduction to good writing, and is worth purchasing).
3. Try to make your review informative and interesting.

Midterm Exam (25%)
The midterm exam will cover material through week 5.

Final Exam (50%)
The final exam will be a comprehensive exam that will test your command of material and concepts presented in class.

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Questions and concerns about the website, email Ria del Rosario at rvdelros@ucsd.edu.
**Updated .06.06.05**

COURSE OUTLINE Week 1: Introduction to key concepts in learning and memory (Ghosh)