Course Descriptions
NESC 3162 Advanced Animal Behaviour: Theories and Applications
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course focuses on advanced theories and applications of animal behaviour, with a focus on proximate, integrative and applied questions. It offers a more in-depth analysis of topics covered in NESC/
PSYO 2160.03 and explores trends and issues in contemporary ethology, animal psychology and behavioural ecology.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
PSYO 2000.03 or
NESC 2000.03 or
BIOL 3062.03 or
BIOL 3630.03, and
NESC 2160.03/
PSYO 2160.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3162.03
NESC 3165 Neuroethology
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Neuroethology explores how assemblies of neurons work together to produce behaviour. The course typically uses a mix of simple model systems, including live animals (e.g., earthworms), virtual systems, and robotics to examine how nervous systems produce behaviour.
NOTES: All experiments in the accompanying lab involve invertebrates. Students are required to handle invertebrates during the lab.
FORMAT: Lab
FORMAT COMMENTS: Research Lab 3 hours
PREREQUISITES:
NESC 2570.03/
PSYO 2570.03, and either
PSYO 2000.03 or
NESC 2000.03 or
BIOL 2020.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3165.03
NESC 3170 Hormones and Behaviour
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course examines how chemical signals of the neural, endocrine, and immune systems interact to influence the brain and behaviour and how neurotransmitters, cytokines, and hormones control neural and behavioural development, sexual, aggressive, and maternal behaviour. Hormone receptors in the brain, reproduction, puberty, brain sex differences, and stress are also examined.
PREREQUISITES:
NESC 2470.03/
PSYO 2470.03 or
PHYL 2041.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3170.03
EXCLUSIONS: NESC 2170.03/PSYO 2170.03
NESC 3180 Psychoneuroimmunology/Ecological Immunology
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Our behaviour can influence how well we resist disease, and infection can alter behaviour. This course examines how immune systems and nervous systems interact in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Evolutionary forces that have led to the existence of these interactions are also examined.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
BIOL 1010.03 or
BIOL 1020.03 and
BIOL 1011.03 or
BIOL 1021.03, and one of
NESC 2470.03/
PSYO 2470.03 or
PSYO 2770.03 or
PHYL 2041.03 or
MICI 2100.03; or
BIOL 2020.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3180.03
NESC 3190 Psycholinguistics
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Explores the cognitive and neural bases of human language processing. Topics include: human language and other communication systems; phonology; morphology; semantics; syntax; discourse; first and second language acquisition; relationship of language to general cognitive functions such as music and mathematics; signed languages such as American Sign Language, and non-linguistic gesture.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
PSYO 2000.03 or
NESC 2000.03, and
NESC 2130.03/
PSYO 2130.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3190.03
EXCLUSIONS: NESC 2190.03/PSYO 2190.03
NESC 3227 Principles of Human Neuropsychology
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Clinical neuropsychologists study the organization of cognitive, emotional, and social functions in the brain to understand how brain damage alters human behaviour across the lifespan. We examine how clinicians diagnose and rehabilitate persons with brain diseases and disorders. Assignments emphasize application of textbook/lecture-based knowledge, critical thinking, and group presentation skills.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
NESC 2470.03/
PSYO 2470.03 or
PSYO 2770.03 or
PHYL 2041.03, NESC/
PSYO 2130 is recommended
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3227.03
NESC 3237 Drugs and Behaviour
CREDIT HOURS: 3
An introduction to behavioural psychopharmacology. The lectures involve basic anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the nervous system. Behavioural effects and underlying mechanisms of various psychoactive drugs are discussed. Specific topics covered are alcohol, tobacco, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, hallucinogens, tranquilizers, and antipsychotic drugs.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
PSYO 2000.03 or
NESC 2000.03, and one of
NESC 2470.03/
PSYO 2470.03 or
NESC 2570.03/
PSYO 2570.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3237.03
NESC 3264 The Science of Sleep
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course reviews the history, methods and results of the scientific study of sleep. Topics include: circadian and homeostatic regulation; developmental and cultural impacts; normal and abnormal function of neural and other control mechanisms; effects of sleep loss on performance and health; theories of the functions of sleep.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
PSYO 2000.03 or
NESC 2000.03 and
NESC 2470.03/
PSYO 2470.03 or
BIOL 2020.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3264.03
NESC 3270 Developmental Neuroscience
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course presents the fundamentals of development in complex and simple nervous systems. Cell differentiation, pattern regulation, proliferation, migration, and circuit development are discussed. Special attention is given to later developmental events such as neuronal growth cones, cell death, growth factors, neuron-target interactions, and synapse formation.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
PSYO 2000.03 or
NESC 2007.03,
NESC 2470.03/
PSYO 2470.03 and
NESC 2570.03/
PSYO 2570.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3270.03
NESC 3271 Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course explores the role that developmental events (internal and external) play in health and disease, emphasizing their role in programming stress responding and metabolic processes across the lifespan. Students learn about underlying epigenetic mechanisms, environmental/sociocultural influences, disease processes impacted (e.g., stress-related and metabolic-related diseases), societal implications, and prevention/mitigation strategies.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
NESC 2000.03 or
PSYO 2000.03 AND
NESC 2470.03 or
PSYO 2470.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3271.03
NESC 3370 Advanced Methods in Neurobiology
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Introduction to several neurophysiological techniques used in contemporary neuroscience, employing extracellular and intracellular electrical recording and stimulation methods on nervous system preparations, both sensory and motor. After introductory instruction, students in groups of 2 or 3 get to perform quite sophisticated practical experiments themselves, enabled by computer-based data acquisition.
FORMAT: Lab
FORMAT COMMENTS: Research Lab 3 hours
PREREQUISITES:
PSYO 2000.03 or
NESC 2000.03,
NESC 2470.03/
PSYO 2470.03 and
NESC 2570.03/
PSYO 2570.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3370.03
NESC 3371 Neuronal Organization Laboratory
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Introduction to several techniques used in contemporary neuroscience. Students work under supervision in groups of 2 or 3 in regular labs that introduce neuroanatomical analyses using the following: Golgi impregnation, immunocytochemistry, dye-tracing of connections, electronmicroscopy of the retina, and neurotransmitter determinations using HPLC.
FORMAT: Lab
FORMAT COMMENTS: Research lab 3 hours
PREREQUISITES:
PSYO 2000.03 or
NESC 2000.03,
NESC 2470.03/
PSYO 2470.03 and
NESC 2570.03/
PSYO 2570.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3371.03
NESC 3440 Neuroanatomy
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This is a survey of the structure and function of the human central nervous system (CNS, the brain and spinal cord). The laboratory component provides the opportunity to dissect the human brain and to study the microscopic anatomy of the CNS. This course provides the lecture and laboratory component for the graduate course
ANAT 5100 Human Neuroanatomy. ORGANIZER: W. Baldridge
FORMAT:
FORMAT COMMENTS: Lecture/lab 3 hours per week
PREREQUISITES:
BIOL 2020.03 or permission of the instructor
NESC 3505 Neural Data Science
CREDIT HOURS: 3
An introduction to data management, manipulation, visualization, and analysis for neuroscience. Students learn scientific programming in Python, and use this to work with example data from areas such as single-cell recording, EEG, structural and functional MRI, and confocal microscopy. Basic signal processing techniques including filtering are covered.
FORMAT:
FORMAT COMMENTS: Online delivery in some terms
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 0
LAB HOURS PER WEEK: 3
TUTORIAL HOURS PER WEEK: 0
PREREQUISITES:
PSYO 2501.03 with a grade of B or higher, and
NESC 2000.03 or
PSYO 2000.03, and
NESC 2470.03 or
PSYO 2470.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3505.03
NESC 3670 Genes, Brain and Behaviour
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The application of genetic techniques to the study of cognitive abilities, psychopathology, personality disorders, stress-related illnesses, and ethical issues in genetic research. The role of genetic factors in eating and drug abuse problems, as well as methods used to study gene-environment interactions are explored.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
NESC 2470.03/
PSYO 2470.03 or
PSYO 2770.03 or
PHYL 2041.03, AND
BIOL 1010.03 or
BIOL 1020.03 and
BIOL 1011.03 or
BIOL 1021.03, or
SCIE 1505X/Y.18, SCIE 1515X/Y.36, SCIE 1520X/Y.30 or SCIE 1540.27 (with a grade of B- or better);
BIOL 2020.03 and
BIOL 2030.03 are recommended
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3670.03
EXCLUSIONS: NESC 2670.03/PSYO 2670.03
NESC 3770 Behavioural Neuroscience
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Behavioural neuroscience explores the neural and hormonal mechanisms underlying a variety of behavioural phenomena. The course focuses on neural correlates of social and emotional behaviour, motor behaviour and patterns, and behavioural toxicology processes (neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors).
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
PSYO 2000.03 or
NESC 2000.03, and
NESC 2470.03/
PSYO 2470.03 or PSYO 2770.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3770.03
NESC 3970 Molecular Neuroscience
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course examines the development, function, and pathology of the brain at the molecular level. A particular focus will be placed upon the molecular mechanisms thought to contribute to neurological disease. The basic molecular neuroscience tools used to study these mechanisms are emphasized.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
NESC 2570.03/
PSYO 2570.03 or
BIOL 2020.03 or
BIOL 2030.03
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 3970.03
NESC 4000 Directed Reading Project
CREDIT HOURS: 3
An individually tailored reading or study course designed to allow Honours students to focus on a particular issue, or a set of related issues, that are not part of the regular program. Enrolment is contingent upon securing a faculty member to supervise the study program. This course will count as a seminar class.
SIGNATURE REQUIRED
Contact pnistud@dal.ca for details.
FORMAT: Seminar
FORMAT COMMENTS: Seminar 2 hours
CROSS-LISTING:
PSYO 4000.03
RESTRICTIONS: Restricted to Neuroscience Majors and Honours Students
NESC 4007 Contemporary Issues in Neuroscience
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This is a seminar course that focuses on a significant theme or topic in the research literature in Neuroscience. Topics vary from year to year. Consult the department for the details about course content.
SIGNATURE REQUIRED
FORMAT: Seminar
FORMAT COMMENTS: Seminar 2 hours
PREREQUISITES: NESC Honours student, permission of the instructor.
NESC 4008 Topics in Neuroscience
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This is a seminar course that focuses on a significant theme or topic in the research literature in neuroscience. Topics vary from year to year. Consult the department for details about course content. SIGNATURE REQUIRED.
NOTES: Instructor Permission Required.
FORMAT: Seminar
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 2
RESTRICTIONS: Neuroscience Honours Student, permission of the instructor.