Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Memory
Examines cell signaling and structural synaptic changes during memory formation to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying memory.
Summary
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=27 letter grades); Fall 2023: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=26 letter grades); Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=23 letter grades).
What you’ll be able to do
Describe how the neural activity at the synapse which occurs during a memory-inducing event (a memorable event) leads to the ability to recall that event, when the animal or person does recall that event, either spontaneously or by prompting.
Apply a variety of biological techniques to understand the biochemical processes that are involved in memory. Learn the principles of these advanced techniqes and apply them appropriately to work out mechanisms.
Formulate why alterations in synaptic strength between neurons in an autoassociative network lead to the ability to recall an event which involved the activation of neurons in that network. This is the concept of pattern completion, which is the core of memory formation and is an incredibly important overall concept.
Succinctly present research proposals that are students' extensions of work that has been published, including a strong component of originality on the part of the student.
Formulate the basics of synaptic transmission mechanisms including presynaptic release of neurotransmitter and effects of neurotransmitter interactions with the post synaptic membrane on biochemistry and electrophysiology of the dendritic spine. These include unique properties of the dendritic spine including anatomy,biochemical composition.
Formulate the concept of neural plasticity, the strengthening and weakening of transmission between presynaptic terminals and post synaptic dendritic spines. The realization that this occurs as the result of interaction between a large number of proteins. Describe the structure of the synapse in detail that includes the roles played by structural proteins and protein kinases and phosphatases in affecting synaptic strength.
Describe the application of the use of advanced optical approaches such as FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) and several others. Formulate how they reveal detailed information about the movements and alterations in properties of the key macromolecules that comprise the synaptic region. Formulate how information is derived from these measurements to explain events of synaptic plasticity.
Formulate an approach using one or more of these techniques to answer an unresolved question regarding the mechanisms of plasticity.
Source: UW Guide
Grade history
↗All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors
Prerequisites
Course mapGraduate/professional standing or ANAT&PHY 335, 435, PHYSIOL 335, 435 or ZOOLOGY/PSYCH 523
- Graduate/professional standing
- ANAT&PHY 335 · unspecified
- ANAT&PHY 435 · unspecified
- PHYSIOL 335, 435
- PSYCH/ZOOLOGY 523 · unspecified
This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Prerequisite text tree
- Any of
- Graduate/professional standing
- ANAT&PHY 335 · unspecified
- ANAT&PHY 435 · unspecified
- PHYSIOL 335, 435
- PSYCH/ZOOLOGY 523 · unspecified
Professors
Spring 2027No instructors recorded for this selection.
Historical instructors & teaching patterns
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Calendar & sections
Spring 2027Schedule loads here as you scroll.
| Section | Mode | Enrolled / capacity | Waitlist |
|---|
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections.
Meeting source records
Student experience
the class
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=27 letter grades); Fall 2023: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=26 letter grades); Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=23 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
No workload feedback recorded.
Topics
- Cell signaling and structural changes at neuronal synapses
- Synaptic transmission mechanisms and neurotransmitter interactions
- Advanced optical approaches like FRET for studying macromolecules in synaptic regions
Skills
- Application of advanced biological and optical techniques (e.g., FRET) to investigate synaptic mechanisms.
- Development and presentation of original research proposals extending published work.
- Formulation of concepts related to neural plasticity and synaptic strength modulation.
Grades
Latest available · Fall 2025— not enough history to project Spring 2027.
Grade distribution · % of letter grades
Grades over time
Through Fall 2025
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Not enough comparable courses for Spring 2027 in UW–Madison.
Sources & history
Catalog & offerings
Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.
Catalog observation history
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Raw records
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Student reviews
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Read original reviews
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Grade history
Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.
Explore recorded gradesRecorded 2026-10-14
Model outputs & technical records
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces
Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.
Model & dataset provenance
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"model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
"task_version": "17",
"output_id": "d7b54510c4419000b14be22d91fa762689ab45cb12a645c62f27badf21c7efae",
"requirements_status": "needs_review",
"dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}