This course is concerned with understanding the biology of the nervous system, focusing primarily on the cellular bases of neuronal function. Lectures will cover such topics as nerve resting and action potentials, ion channels, neurotransmitters and synapses, and the neural correlates of behavior in organisms with simple nervous systems. Reading original research papers and discussing them constitutes an important part of the course. Some of the topics that may be covered include: transmitter release mechanisms, ion permeation through channels, plasticity in the nervous system, and various clinical disorders. Laboratories are designed to introduce the students to modern techniques in neurobiology including extracellular and intracellular recording, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry. Format: lecture/laboratory, six hours per week. Evaluation will be based on class participation, laboratory notebooks and posters, two hour exams and a final exam. Prerequisites: Biology 205. Enrollment limit: 16 (expected: 16). Preference given to Biology majors and Neuroscience concentrators.