Neural Circuits for Motor Control in Health and Disease

Catalog description

Almost all behaviors-from speech to a cross court forehand-are mediated by the contraction of muscles. This course examines the neural origins of motor behavior, from simple reflexes to complex learned motor sequences. Ascending the motor hierarchy, we will study the neuromuscular junction, spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. At each level, we will examine the structure and function of the local microcircuit, as well as diseases-such as myasthenia gravis, stroke, ALS, ataxia and Parkinson's-that result from that circuit's dysfunction.Each week we will discuss a topic relating to the neurobiology of motor control, with a combination of lectures (both video and real-life) and student-led presentations of relevant research papers. Students will be evaluated on the basis of their participation, their presentations, their final project (a 5 page grant proposal on a research question relevant to the course), and a final exam.