Computational Neuroscience

  1. Foundations in Neuroscience
    1. The Neuron Doctrine
      1. Historical development
        1. Cajal's contributions
          1. Implications for brain organization
            1. Modern refinements
            2. Structure of a Neuron
              1. Soma
                1. Cell body components
                  1. Nucleus and organelles
                  2. Dendrites
                    1. Dendritic tree structure
                      1. Dendritic spines
                        1. Signal integration
                        2. Axon
                          1. Axon hillock and initial segment
                            1. Axon proper
                              1. Axon terminals
                              2. Myelin Sheath
                                1. Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells
                                  1. Myelination process
                                  2. Nodes of Ranvier
                                    1. Structure and function
                                      1. Saltatory conduction
                                      2. Synaptic terminals
                                        1. Presynaptic terminals
                                          1. Synaptic vesicles
                                            1. Active zones
                                          2. The Cell Membrane and Ion Channels
                                            1. Lipid Bilayer
                                              1. Structure and function
                                                1. Membrane proteins
                                                  1. Membrane permeability
                                                  2. Ion Channels
                                                    1. Voltage-gated channels
                                                      1. Sodium channels
                                                        1. Potassium channels
                                                          1. Calcium channels
                                                          2. Ligand-gated channels
                                                            1. Neurotransmitter receptors
                                                              1. Second messenger systems
                                                              2. Mechanically-gated channels
                                                                1. Stretch-activated channels
                                                              3. Ion Pumps
                                                                1. Sodium-potassium pump
                                                                  1. Calcium pumps
                                                                    1. Energy requirements
                                                                    2. Ion Exchangers
                                                                      1. Sodium-calcium exchanger
                                                                        1. Chloride transporters
                                                                      2. The Resting Membrane Potential
                                                                        1. Ionic gradients
                                                                          1. Sodium gradient
                                                                            1. Potassium gradient
                                                                              1. Chloride gradient
                                                                                1. Calcium gradient
                                                                                2. Nernst Equation
                                                                                  1. Derivation
                                                                                  2. Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz Equation
                                                                                    1. Multiple ion permeability
                                                                                      1. Relative permeabilities
                                                                                      2. Role of permeability
                                                                                        1. Selective permeability
                                                                                          1. Membrane resistance
                                                                                        2. The Action Potential
                                                                                          1. Threshold and All-or-None Principle
                                                                                            1. Threshold mechanisms
                                                                                              1. Digital nature of spikes
                                                                                              2. Phases of the Action Potential
                                                                                                1. Depolarization
                                                                                                  1. Sodium channel activation
                                                                                                    1. Positive feedback
                                                                                                    2. Repolarization
                                                                                                      1. Potassium channel activation
                                                                                                        1. Sodium channel inactivation
                                                                                                        2. Hyperpolarization
                                                                                                          1. Afterhyperpolarization
                                                                                                            1. Potassium channel deactivation
                                                                                                          2. Refractory Period
                                                                                                            1. Absolute refractory period
                                                                                                              1. Sodium channel inactivation
                                                                                                              2. Relative refractory period
                                                                                                                1. Threshold elevation
                                                                                                              3. Propagation of action potentials
                                                                                                                1. Continuous conduction
                                                                                                                  1. Saltatory conduction
                                                                                                                    1. Conduction velocity
                                                                                                                  2. Synaptic Transmission
                                                                                                                    1. Electrical Synapses
                                                                                                                      1. Gap junctions
                                                                                                                        1. Connexins
                                                                                                                          1. Fast transmission
                                                                                                                            1. Bidirectional communication
                                                                                                                            2. Chemical Synapses
                                                                                                                              1. Neurotransmitter release
                                                                                                                                1. Calcium-dependent exocytosis
                                                                                                                                  1. SNARE proteins
                                                                                                                                  2. Synaptic vesicles
                                                                                                                                    1. Vesicle cycle
                                                                                                                                      1. Neurotransmitter packaging
                                                                                                                                      2. Synaptic cleft
                                                                                                                                        1. Neurotransmitter diffusion
                                                                                                                                          1. Clearance mechanisms
                                                                                                                                        2. Neurotransmitters
                                                                                                                                          1. Excitatory neurotransmitters
                                                                                                                                            1. Glutamate
                                                                                                                                              1. Acetylcholine
                                                                                                                                              2. Inhibitory neurotransmitters
                                                                                                                                                1. GABA
                                                                                                                                                  1. Glycine
                                                                                                                                                  2. Modulatory neurotransmitters
                                                                                                                                                    1. Dopamine
                                                                                                                                                      1. Serotonin
                                                                                                                                                        1. Norepinephrine
                                                                                                                                                      2. Receptors
                                                                                                                                                        1. Ionotropic receptors
                                                                                                                                                          1. AMPA receptors
                                                                                                                                                            1. NMDA receptors
                                                                                                                                                              1. GABA-A receptors
                                                                                                                                                              2. Metabotropic receptors
                                                                                                                                                                1. G-protein coupled receptors
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Second messenger cascades
                                                                                                                                                                2. Postsynaptic Potentials
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
                                                                                                                                                                    1. EPSP characteristics
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Glutamate-mediated EPSPs
                                                                                                                                                                      2. Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials
                                                                                                                                                                        1. IPSP characteristics
                                                                                                                                                                          1. GABA-mediated IPSPs
                                                                                                                                                                        2. Synaptic integration
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Spatial summation
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Linear summation
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Nonlinear interactions
                                                                                                                                                                              2. Temporal summation
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Membrane time constants
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Facilitation and depression
                                                                                                                                                                              3. Major Brain Structures and Functions
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Cerebral cortex
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Cortical layers
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Cortical columns
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Functional areas
                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Hippocampus
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. CA fields
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Dentate gyrus
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Memory formation
                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Basal ganglia
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Striatum
                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Globus pallidus
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Substantia nigra
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Motor control circuits
                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Cerebellum
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Cerebellar cortex
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Deep cerebellar nuclei
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Motor learning
                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Thalamus
                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Thalamic nuclei
                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Relay functions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Cortical-thalamic loops
                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Brainstem
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Midbrain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Pons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Medulla
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Vital functions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Spinal cord
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Gray matter organization
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. White matter tracts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Reflex circuits

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Introduction to Computational Neuroscience

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