THE BASIC SCIENCE OF SLEEP AND CONSCIOUSNESS

NTP 677

Sleep occupies a third of our life, is found in all animal species carefully studied so far, and loss of sleep has both acute and long- term negative consequences on the brain and the body. Still, why we sleep remains unclear, and hypotheses on the role of sleep for synaptic homeostasis, learning and memory are being tested. Focuses on the neurobiology of sleep, with detailed review of the brain structures involved in controlling wake and sleep, as well as the circadian and homeostatic regulation of sleep. Other topics include changes in sleep need with age, animal models to study sleep, sleep disorders, and genetics of sleep.

NTP 900

Critical review of selected topics in neurobiology.

NTP 666

Outlines contemporary strategies to study consciousness and current knowledge of the neural correlates of consciousness and their alterations during sleep, parasomnia, anesthesia, coma, stroke, seizures, meditative and psychedelic states. Reviews recent work studying the neural correlates of conscious contents and their interactions with cognitive processes. Outlines contemporary theories of consciousness, illustrate how they can be empirically tested, and discuss their implications for the presence vs. absence of consciousness in artificial intelligent systems.

ZOOLOGY 500

A wide range of topics in neurobiology research from molecular neurobiology to integrative systems. Topics discussed by invited UW-Madison faculty researchers might include: ion channels and synaptic plasticity, neural development, sensory and cognitive physiology, biological basis of behavioral disorders and cognitive decline.

EDPSYCH 542

Focuses on neuroscience foundational concepts relevant to clinical mental health practice, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, psychopharmacology, disease states; ontological and phylogenic neurodevelopment. Provides an overview of ethical/cultural implications of these scientific advances. Ethical/Cultural/Economic Applications.