Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience is a fundamental branch of neurobiology that investigates the nervous system at its most microscopic levels. It focuses on the composition, structure, and function of individual nerve cells (neurons) and their supporting glial cells, exploring the intricate molecular machinery that governs their behavior. This field examines the roles of genes, proteins—such as ion channels, receptors, and transporters—and signaling molecules in processes like electrical excitability, synaptic transmission, and neural plasticity. By dissecting these basic components, cellular and molecular neuroscience provides the foundational understanding for how neurons communicate and form the circuits that ultimately give rise to sensation, thought, behavior, and neurological disease.

1. Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
   1. Historical Foundations
      1. The Neuron Doctrine
         1. Contributions of Santiago Ramón y Cajal
         2. Contrasts with Reticular Theory
      2. Early Discoveries in Neuroanatomy
      3. Development of Modern Techniques
         1. Electron Microscopy
         2. Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology
         3. Molecular Biology Methods
   2. The Cells of the Nervous System
      1. Neurons
         1. Basic Structure and Function
         2. Functional Diversity
      2. Glial Cells
         1. Types and General Functions
   3. Levels of Analysis in Neuroscience
      1. Molecular Level
      2. Cellular Level
      3. Systems Level
      4. Behavioral Level
      5. Computational Level
   4. Fundamental Principles
      1. Information Processing in Neural Networks
      2. Electrical and Chemical Signaling
      3. Plasticity and Adaptation