Jordan University of Science and Technology Faculty of Engineering Biomedical Engineering Department

BME 562 Control and Communication in the Nervous System

Course Catalog
3 Credit hours (3 h lectures). An introduction to the structural and functional elements common to nervous systems with emphasis on cellular dynamics, interneuronal communication, sensory and effector system.

Text Book(s)
Title Author(s) Publisher Year Edition Principles of Neural Science Kandel, E.R., Schwartz, J.H., Jessell, T.M. McGraw-Hill 2000 4th Edition

References
Books Webster, D.B. (1998) Neuroscience of Communication. 2nd Edition. Singular. Katz, P.S. (1999) Beyond Neurotransmission: Neuromodulation and Its Importance for Information Processing. Oxford University Press. Bear, M.F., Connors, B., Paradiso, M. (2006). Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain. 3rd Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Squire, L.R., Roberts, J.L., Spitzer, N.C., Zigmond, M.J. (2002) Fundamental Neuroscience. 2nd Edition, Academic Press. The Journal of Neuroscience European Journal of Neuroscience Annual Reviews of Neuroscience Journal of Neurophysiology http://www.bmecentral.com/publications/ http://www.sciencedirect.com http://www.elsevier.com http://www.springer.com

Journals

Internet links

Prerequisites
Prerequisites by topic Prerequisites by course Co-requisites by course Prerequisite for Statistics for Biomedical Engineers, Physiology BME 302, MED 236A N/A None

Objectives and Outcomes1

1. Objectives Appreciate the role of control and communication in the nervous system in Biomedical Engineering [f,h,j] Study the relationship between brain and behavior [a,e,g] Outcomes 1.1. Appreciate the role of control and communication in the nervous system in the field of biomedical engineering. [f,h,i,j]. 2.1. Learn the relationship between brain and behavior [g] 2.2. Differentiate between distinct functional regions of the brain [a] 2.3. Identify the loci of cognitive functions, and their mental representation. [a,e] 3.1. Differentiate between classes of cells within the nervous system [a,e] 3.2. Explain the mechanism of signaling networks, their organization, and their ability for conveying unique information [a] 4.1. Identify the types ion channels and signaling, the characteristics and structure of ion channels, the origin of membrane potential. [a,e,g,j,k] 4.2. Calculate the balance of ion fluxes, the contribution of different ions to this balance, and construct an electrical equivalent circuit. [a,e,g,j,k] 5.1. Define Local signaling and its relation to passive electrical properties of neurons. [a,e,g,j,k] 5.2. Calculate membrane input resistance and membrane capacitance [a,e,g,j,k] 5.3. Calculate the efficiency of signal conduction, and velocity of propagation [a,e,g,j,k] 6.1. Explain propagated signaling [a,j,k] 6.2. Analyze synaptic transmission, chemical vs. electrical synapses, signaling time and signal amplification [a,c,e,g,j,k] 6.3. Determine the quantal units involved in transmitter release [a,c,e,g,j,k] 6.4. Address signaling at the neuron muscle synapse, neuromuscular junction and end plate potentials, Patch clamp and single channel currents, ACh gated channels, and synaptic integration. [a,c,e,g,j,k] 6.5. Analyze Glutamate, GABA, and Glycine mediated channels, as well as the integration of excitatory and inhibitory signals by these channnels. [a,c,e,g,j,k] 6.6. Groupe synapses according to function [a,c,e,g,j,k] 7.1. Explain the coding of sensory information [a] 7.2. Correlate stimulus with sensation in the nervous system. [a] 7.3. Differentiate between the stimulus energy and sensory modality [a]

2.

3. Study the classes, structure, and organization of nerve cells [a,c,e,i,g,j,k] 4. Analyze the origin of signals and signaling capability in the nervous system [a,e,g,j,k]

5.

Study local signaling in the nervous system [a,c,e,g,j,k]

6.

Study propagated signaling and interneuronal / neuromuscular synaptic transmission [a,c,e,g,j,k]

7.

Correlate the coding of sensory information to stimulus energy, modality, and

1

Lower-case letters in brackets refer to the Program outcomes

spatial & temporal distribution. [a,c,e]

7.4. Analyze the spatial distribution of sensory neurons, stimulus amplitude and intensity of sensation, as well as the adaptation rate and duration of stimulation [a,e,g,k] 8.1 Explain the mechanism of visual image construction, visual perception, processing of motion, depth, form, and color, as well as visual attention, conscious awareness, and visual processing. [a,e,g,j,k] 8.2 Discuss the operation of the eyes receptor sheet, phototransduction, receptor adaptation to changes in light intensity, and retinal output and signal relay [a,e] 9.1 Write technical report and give oral presentation on team work projects [g,h,i,k]

8.

Apply neuro-communication principles to the construction and perception of visual images[a,e] Encourage life long learning, foster teamwork and enhance students communication skills [d,g,h,i,k]

9.

Week 1-2

4-5

8-9

10-11

12-13

14-16

Topics Covered Topics Relationship between brain and behavior. Distinct functional regions of the brain. Localization of cognitive functions. Representation of mental processes. Classes of cells within the nervous system. Signaling networks and their organization. Conveying unique information. Ion channels and signaling Characteristics and structure of ion channels. Origin and determination of membrane potential. Balance of ion fluxes. Contribution of different ions. Electrical equivalent circuit. Local signaling: Passive electrical properties of neurons. Membrane input resistance. Membrane capacitance. Efficiency of signal conduction, and velocity of propagation. First Exam 11th Nov. 2006 Propagated signaling The action potential. Properties of voltage-gated channels and signaling capabilities. Signaling function and molecular structure. Synaptic Transmission. Chemical vs. electrical synapses. Signaling time and signal amplification. Transmitter release. Quantal units. Synaptic vesicles and mechanisms regulating their production and release. Signaling at the neuron muscle synapse Neuromuscular junction and end plate potentials. Patch clamp and single channel currents. ACh gated channels. Synaptic integration. Glutamate, GABA, and Glycine mediated channels. Integration of excitatory and inhibitory signals. Grouping of synapses according to function. Second Exam 7th Dec. 2006 Coding of sensory information. Correlating stimulus with sensation. Stimulus energy and sensory modality. Spatial distribution of sensory neurons. Stimulus amplitude and intensity of sensation. Adaptation rate and duration of stimulation. Construction of visual images. Visual perception. Processing of motion, depth, form, and color. Visual attention and conscious awareness. Visual Processing. Eyes receptor sheet. Phototransduction. 4 Receptor adaptation to changes in light intensity. Retinal output and signal relay. Final Exam

References Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 6-7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10, 14

Chapter 11, 12

Chapter 21

Chapter 25, 26

Evaluation
Assessment Tool Participation and project First Exam Second Exam Final Exam Expected Due Date End of the Semester According to the Department schedule According to the Department schedule According to the University final examination schedule 10% 25 % 25 % 40 % Weight

Teaching & Learning Methods

Active learning, where students should be active and involved in the learning process inside the classroom, will be emphasized in the delivery of this course. Different active learning methods/approaches such as: Engaged Learning, Project-Based Learning, Cooperative Learning, Problem-based Learning, Structured Problem-solving, will be used. The teaching method that will be used in this course will be composed of a series of mini lectures interrupted with frequent discussions and brainstorming exercises. PowerPoint presentations will be prepared for the course materials. A typical lecture would start with a short review (~ 5 minutes) using both PowerPoint presentations and the blackboard. This review will also depend on discussions which will gauge the students digestion of the previous material. Then, the students would have a lecture on new materials using PowerPoint presentations and blackboard. The lecture presentation will be paused every 15 20 minutes with brainstorming questions and discussions that will allow the students to reflect and think in more depth about what they learned in that presentation. Then, some example problems will be presented and discussed with the students to illustrate the appropriate problem solving skills that the students should learn. The lecture will be continued for another 15 20 minutes, followed by examples and/or a quiz covering the materials taught in the previous two weeks.

Policy
Attendance Attendance will be checked at the beginning of each class. University regulations will be strictly followed for students exceeding the maximum number of absences. In addition, 0.5 point will be deducted from the grade of homework for each unexcused absence. Term projects will be conducted by a group of 2-3 students. The team should share and distribute responsibility. The group will submit a professional report and make an oral presentation. Making use of all resources, e.g., patents, journal publications, internet, labs, etc., is encouraged. The report must be typed. Hand-written reports are not accepted. The report should not exceed 10 pages. Late Reports will be penalized. It is the responsibility of each student to adhere to the principles of academic integrity. Academic integrity means that a student is honest with him/herself, fellow students, instructors, and the University in matters concerning his or her educational endeavors. Cheating will not be tolerated in this course. University regulations will be pursued and enforced on any cheating student.

Term Project

Student Conduct

Contribution of Course to Meeting the Professional Component

The course aims at introducing the concepts and physiology of inter-neuronal signaling and communication as it pertains to control and communication in the nervous system.

ABET Category Content

Engineering Science Engineering Design 3.0 Credits