Introduction to Neurology
Syllabus
400:127g
Dr. Linda L. Walsh

Spring, 2008


Table of Contents
  Professor    Textbooks and Readings    Requirements    Grading Scale
  Neurology Resources & Powerpoint Notes    Neuroanatomy Resources  
Highlights of 2007      Meet My Family

PROFESSOR: Dr. Linda L. Walsh

Office: Baker 441         Office Hours: 11:00 MWF; other 
Mailbox: Baker 334       times by appointment; drop-bys welcome.

Phone: 273-2690          Email: walsh@uni.edu

Interactive Class Schedule & Reading Assignments
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"How much of this stuff will be on the exam?"

Yes, this course has a lot of assigned links, which have a lot of links, which have a lot of links . . .
Relax, many of these links are images or brief examples to help you learn class material. Only a portion of them are "readings". Many of the web links I will actually use as part of lecture. Exam questions will cover only material in the text and studyguide, in lectures, and the first level of linked pages unless I specifically tell you to "click on" additional items on those pages. Feel free to go beyond what's assigned however - that's often how you'll find what in neurology is most personally meaningful or useful to you. What you find will reinforce the textbook and lectures, and so it will also help you to do better on the exams. The more ways that you interact with the vocabulary, concepts and findings we will be discussing, the better your memory and understanding of the material will be.

Resources for Neuroscience, Neurological and Neuropsychological Terms:
Neuroscience for Kids - Glossary
Etymology of Neuroscience Terms
Clinical Neuropsychology Reference
Glossary of Neuropsychology Terms
General Neuroanatomy Resources
The digital anatomist A very comprehensive site featuring pictures and 3 dimensional reconstruction of the human brain. On-line quiz on each image. (slow and shaky connection).
The whole brain atlas: A comprehensive atlas of 2 dimensional scans of the human brain using techniques such as CT or MRI, including normal anatomy and pathology.
Virtual Hospital:The Human Brain - Human brain dissections from the University of Iowa
The W.U.S.M. Neuroscience Tutorial - from Washington University School of Medicine 

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Requirements:
Basic Anatomy Homework (25 pts) Due Fri., Jan 18) Remove pages 34-37 from your study guide. Color the various brain regions so that, when put together, it will be a more vivid brain model. If a particular structure shows up on more than one page (e.g. the thalamus), use the same color for that structure on all pages. In the blank spaces on the page list each of the pictured structures and identify which of the 5 basic divisions (telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon, metencephalon, myelencephalon) it is a component of, and briefly identify its basic function. As an example I will give you 2 answers that don't appear in your reading:
fornix - (which is part of the limbic system connecting to hippocampus) telencephalon - emotion and memory  (you only have to do this once for each structure)
internal capsule (IC)(big axon bundle carrying messages between cortex and lower brain areas) - telencephalon - sensory messages coming to cortex, motor commands leaving cortex    In case you can't decode my abbreviations: BG=basal ganglia, cer=cerebellum, mid=midbrain, hyp=hypothalamus, pg=pituitary gland
2) Print Studylist 1 from our online syllabus. Look through the list of brain area terms (The Brain From Bottom to Top) Briefly write down the basic function of any brain area that you did not just identify the function of on your brain model pages. Turn in these and the brain model pages.
3) From the 1/10/05 area on our online syllabus, complete the "Label the Lobes and Regions" exercise and submit it to me (walsh@uni.edu).

Paper: Explaining Recent Neurological Research
For this assignment you will turn in the abstracts of 3 recent neurological/neuropsychological research reports (published studies) which you feel you could write your journal article paper about. From the approved articles you will select 1 to "explain" to a layperson audience via your paper, including explaining the underlying neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, background on the neurological disorder/problem and symptoms, research methods, etc. The paper is described in more detail in the studyguide.

Optional Assignments
Optional assignments are additional assignments to be factored in your grade just like required assignments. Doing extra assignments decreases the proportion of your semester grade based on tests and increases the proportion based on assignments. Doing optional assignments increases the "points possible"  as well as the "points earned" in the calculation of your grade (that is, these are not freebie extra credit points).

Create a  Brain Area, Pathway or System Model (up to 30 pts; minimum 15 anatomical regions labeled)
During the semester we cover specific brain regions and several pathways or interconnected systems. Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to create a good visual model that you think could help the class learn the underlying anatomy. Your model must be well labeled and must be turned in while we are covering that pathway or system. Points earned will reflect the amount of detail, the accuracy, the value as an educational tool, and your creativity.  You are encouraged to use color coding and identifiable neuroanatomical landmarks, and to mount or present your model in a sturdy fashion that could be passed around class. Suggestions: detailed model of the brain stem external features, the midline surface of the brain, detailed subareas of the cortex, spinal cord and nerves in cross-section, coronal section of the brain, demonstrating the spinothalamic pathway, the dorsal column pathway, or the corticospinal pathway. May be done once.

Studyguide Update - Read up on one of the topics in our studyguide to see what additions and changes should be made in the general description of the disease or disorder to make the studyguide more current and thorough. Provide references for the modifications you suggest (up to 30 pts depending on the extent of the update you provide).

10 pt Extra Credit. Keep a blank videotape handy to record any shows, segments, or news reports related to the neuroanatomy/neurology covered in this class. Turn the tape in to me with a summary of the program, why you think it's relevant to the class, and a critical evaluation of the segment using an evaluation handout.(tape will be returned). May be done once.
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Grading

Grades will be based on the total number of points accumulated during the semester. The multi-part paper assignment is worth 100 points for undergraduates. The paper assignment for graduate students extensive than that of the undergrads and is worth 125 points.**Completion of optional assignments changes the points possible for the semester. You must have a passing average on the tests to pass the course.

  • Your final course grade will be assigned according to this scale:
  • Grade
    Percent
    Grade 
    Percent 
    Grade
    Percent
    A
    93.0-100.0% 
    B-
    80.0 - 82.9% 
    D+
    67.0 - 69.9% 
    A-
    90.0 - 92.9% 
    C+
    77.0 - 79.9% 
    D
    63.0 - 66.9% 
    B+
    87.0 - 89.9% 
    C
    73.0 - 76.9% 
    D-
    60.0 - 62.9% 
    B
    83.0 - 86.9% 
    C-
    70.0 - 72.9% 
    F
    0.0 - 59.9% 
    About Your Prof
    Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
    Education: B.S. (Psychology) University of Illinois, Chicago; M.A. (Biopsychology) University of Chicago; Ph.D. (Biopsychology) University of Chicago
    Married:  James Walsh (attorney)
    Children:  3 girls (Jennifer, Sara, & Annie)
    Hobbies:  Gardening, gourmet cooking, travel, reading
    Most unusual experiences: Performing brain surgery on rats, riding an elephant (twice!), wearing a live python around my neck, climbing the Great Pyramid, flying in a blimp, visiting ancient Greek ruins, giving birth
    Goals: Continue to learn for the rest of my life, enjoy my professional and private lives, help others discover psychology (especially biopsychology)
     
    "Gentlemen, look on this wonder! 
    Whatever the bids of the bidders, 
    They cannot be high enough for it; 
    For it the globe lay preparing quintillions
    of years, without one animal or plant; 
    For it the revolving cycles truly and steadily roll'd.
    In this head the all-baffling brain; 
    In it and below it, the makings of heroes." 
          - Walt Whitman -  I Sing the Body Electric, 1855
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    This page was updated on 1/7/08 by Linda Walsh