Circuits & Brain Disorders_Course Schedule 2022.doc

"Circuits and Brain Disorders" is an interdisciplinary course that delves into the intricate relationship between neural circuits and various brain disorders. This course bridges neuroscience, neuropsychology, and clinical practice, offering students a comprehensive understanding of how disruptions in neural circuitry can lead to cognitive, emotional, and behavioral impairments. Students will explore the fundamental principles of neural circuits, including the anatomy and physiology of neurons, synapses, and networks. The course will cover how these circuits are organized within the brain and how they facilitate complex behaviors and cognitive functions. A key focus will be on how abnormalities in neural circuits contribute to brain disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and autism spectrum disorders. Students will learn about the specific circuits involved in these conditions and how their dysfunction manifests as clinical symptoms. The course will delve into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying circuit dysfunctions, including genetic mutations, neurochemical imbalances, and neuroinflammation. Students will study how these mechanisms disrupt normal circuit function and lead to disease. Students will be introduced to the latest diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies used in clinical practice to identify and treat circuit-based brain disorders. This includes neuroimaging techniques, electrophysiological methods, pharmacological interventions, and neuromodulation therapies such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The course will highlight cutting-edge research in the field, including the use of optogenetics, CRISPR, and other advanced techniques to manipulate and study neural circuits. Students will also explore the potential for developing novel therapies targeting specific circuits to treat brain disorders. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Analyze the structure and function of neural circuits and their role in behavior and cognition.
Identify the neural circuits implicated in various brain disorders and explain how their dysfunction leads to specific symptoms.
Critically evaluate the molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to circuit dysfunction in brain disorders.
Assess the effectiveness and limitations of current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches targeting neural circuits.
Engage with recent research and innovations in the field, and consider their implications for future treatments. The course will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, and laboratory sessions. Lectures will provide the theoretical foundation, while seminars will focus on critical discussions of current research papers. Laboratory sessions will offer hands-on experience with techniques such as neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral assays.

1. Circuits and Brain Disorders (Course # ME.440.820)
Seminar, Tuesdays, 10:30am-11:30am, Fall 2022 (Virtual)
Journal Club, Thursdays, 10:30am-11:30am, Fall 2022 (Virtual)

Session DateLecturer Title Notes
T
E
R
M
1
1 09/06/22Marilyn AlbertOverview – selective vulnerability in major neurodegenerative
disorders and the impact on disease presentation
2 09/13/22Kishore
Kuchibhotla
Alterations in microcircuits in early AD
3 09/20/22Juan Troncoso AD neuropathology and neurobiology
4 09/27/22Arnold Bakker AD imaging and fluid biomarkers
5 10/04/22Barry GreenbergAD therapeutic approaches and clinical trials
6 10/11/22Chiadi Onyike FTD clinical presentations
7 10/18/22Meaghan MorrisFTD neuropathology and neurobiology
T
E
R
M
2
1 10/25/22Bryan Traynor FTD genetics and biomarkers
2 11/01/22Alex PantelyatPD neuropathology, neurobiology and biomarkers
3 11/08/22Sonja Scholz PD genetics and therapeutic approaches
4 11/15/22Chris Ross HD neuropathology and neurobiology
5 11/29/22Jee Bang HD therapeutic approaches and clinical trials
6 12/06/22Jeff RothsteinALS neurobiology, neuropathology and therapeutic approaches
7 12/13/22Charlotte
Sumner
SMA neurobiology, neuropathology and therapeutic
approaches