Spring 1997
Room 42 Burrill Hall, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Tuesdays, 2:30-6:30 pm

Instructor:

Dr. Mark Nelson 3351 Beckman Institute

m-nelson @ uiuc.edu

Teaching Assistants:

Jeff Kramer 491 Burrill Hall 244-1840 jmkramer@uiuc.edu

Malcolm MacIver 3610 Beckman Institute 244-4478 maciver@uiuc.edu

Schedule:

Week of:

1/21/97 Introduction and overview

1/28/97 Weakly Electric Pulse Fish/ MacLab & Recording Hardware Intro

2/04/97 Recording from Cockroach Leg Mechanoreceptors

2/11/97 Recording from Cockroach Ventral Nerve Cord I

2/18/97 Recording from Cockroach Ventral Nerve Cord II

2/25/97 Visual Receptive Fields in Frog Tectum I

3/04/97 Visual Receptive Fields in Frog Tectum II

3/11/97 Autonomic responses in the VLM of the Rat lab Ia

3/18/97 Histology, electrode localization for lab 1a

3/19/97 Autonomic responses in the VLM of the Rat lab Ib

3/25/97 Histology, electrode localization for lab 1b

4/01/97 Aplysia californica intracellular recordings I

4/08/97 Aplysia californica intracellular recordings II

4/15/97 Aplysia californica intracellular recordings III, individual project proposal due

4/22/97 Computer experiments with neuron models (using Genesis) (3610 BI)

4/29/97 Individual projects

5/06/97 Individual projects

Important Information:

The objective of this course is to provide you with a background in most of the standard techniques and equipment used in electrophysiology. You are expected to have read the laboratory procedures and the relevant literature provided prior to each laboratory period. Laboratory reports are due 2 weeks without exception after the completion of each lab (after the second period for double labs), and are to be typed double spaced in standard journal format. The criteria by which these are to be graded are given in the attached handout. We have also included a model lab report written by a past student to help give you an idea of what we're looking for. In general, reports should be long enough to fully describe the exercise as if it were to be read critically by someone wanting to verify or duplicate your work, but should be reasonably concise. Most reports will be around 5-6 pages of text, with additional figures and graphs. Individual projects at the end of the course will be discussed later in the semester.

Lab Report Grade Breakdown

Abstract (5%)

This should be a concise statement of the purpose of the experiment, an abbreviated description of the procedure, and brief results and conclusions.

Introduction (20%)

This should include any pertinent background information, including any previously reported supporting research. The purpose of the experiment should also be included, with a hypothesis, if applicable.

Materials and Methods (10%)

A description of the procedures employed in the experiment, specific enough that the experiment could be reproduced by anyone reading your report. Included may be tissue preparation, recording procedures, and listings of equipment used.

Results (25%)

A statement of your findings with any pertinent supporting tables, figures, or graphs with proper legends and captions.

Discussion (25%)

The discussion should include an explanation of your results with respect to other research, theoretical impact and neurophysiological implications of your data. Error analysis and explanation of unexpected or unusual results should also be included in your report.

References (5%)

In any standard journal bibliographical format.

Overall quality(10%)

READING LIST

Introduction Materials

Syllabus and laboratory report grading sheet.

Sample laboratory report: Response properties of Ictaluras puntatus Catfish Ampullary Electroreceptors

Payne, J. (1995). Physiology 416 Electrophysiology Notes. University of Illinois: Unpublished Class Note Material.

Possajenikov, L. Schlensky, B. (1996) ADInstruments Spike Histogram Extension manual.

Electric Fish Lab

Oakley, B. & R. Schafer (1988) Electrolocation and electrocommunication: Electric signals and behavior of weakly electric fish. In Experimental neurobiology: a laboratory manual. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 272-280.

Ego, V. (1995). A study of the weakly electric fish, Apteronotus albifrons. University of Illinois: Unpublished Nelson Lab Report.

Cockroach Leg Lab

Delcomyn, F., Nelson, M.E., & Cocatre-Zilgien, J.H. (1996) Sense organs of insect legs and the selection of sensors for agile walking robots. The International Journal of Robotics Research, 15, 113-127.

Cockroach Ventral Nerve Lab

Camhi, J.M., Tom, W. and Volman, S. (1978). The escape behavior of the cockroach Periplantea americana II. Detection of natural predators by air displacement. Journal of Comparative Physiology, 128, 203-212.

Oakley, B. & R. Schafer (1988) Cockroach ventral nerve cord Spontaneuos and Elicited Responses. In Experimental neurobiology: a laboratory manual. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 204-211.

Sullivan, Joe. Escape Behavior in the American Cockroach. [Online] Available http://nelson.beckman.uiuc.edu/courses/neuroethol/model_systems.html. October 1, 1996.

Frog Optic Tectum Lab/Take Home Exam

Oakley, B. & R. Schafer (1988) Frog Optic Tectum Retinal Processing of Visual Form. In Experimental neurobiology: a laboratory manual. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 239-246.

Lettvin, J.Y., Maturana, H.R., W.S. McCulloch, and W.H. Pitts, 1959. What the Frog's Eye Tells the Frog's Brain Proceedings of the IRE (Institute of Radio Engineers, now the IEEE), vol 47, pg 1940-1959.

Ohlemyer, C., Meyer, J.W. (1992). The faraday cage and grounding arrangement. In Kettenmann, H. and Grantyn, R. (Eds.), Practical Electrophysiological Methods: A Guide for In Vitro Studies in Vertibrate Neurobiology. Wiley-Liss: New York, 3-5.

Robinson DA (1968) The electrical properties of metal microelectrodes. Proceedings of the IEEE 56:1065.

Schanne OF, Lavallee M, Laprade R, Gagne S (1968) Electrical properties of glass microelectrodes. Proceedings of the IEEE 56:

Autonomic Rat Lab

Lowey, A.D. (1990). Anatomy of the autonomic nervous system: An overview. In Lowey, A. and Spyer, K. (Eds.), Central Regulation of Autonomic Functions. Oxford University Press: Oxford.

Paxinos, G., & Watson, C. (1986). The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates. Academic Press, London.

Guyenet, P.G. (1990). Role of the ventral medulla oblongata in blood pressure regulation. In Lowey, A. and Spyer, K. (Eds.), Central Regulation of Autonomic Functions. Oxford University Press: Oxford.

Aplysia Labs

Müller, C. M. (1992). Intracellular microelectrodes. In Kettenmann, H. and Grantyn, R. (Eds.), Practical Electrophysiological Methods: A Guide for In Vitro Studies in Vertibrate Neurobiology. Wiley-Liss: New York, 183-188.

Oakley, B. & R. Schafer (1988) Electrodes and nerve chambers. In Experimental neurobiology: a laboratory manual. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 37-39.

Kandel, E. (1979) Small systems of neurons. Sci. Amer 241: 66-76.

GENESIS Neural Simulator Lab

Nelson, M.E. & Rinzel, J. (1995) The Hodgkin-Huxley Model. Chapter 4 In: Bower, J.M., Beeman, D. The Book of GENESIS. Springer-Verlag, Santa Clara CA, 29-51.