Paul B. Manis, Interim Director
Albert Baldwin, Regulation and Biological Functions of the Transcription Factor NF-kB and the Role of NF-kB in Disease, with a Particular Emphasis on Cancer and Cancer Therapy.
W. E. Bollenbacher (109) Developmental Neuroendocrinology
Thomas W. Bouldin (98) Neurotoxicology, Models of Peripheral Neuropathy, Blood-Nerve Barrier
George R. Breese (2) Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Neuropharmacology, Alcoholism, Neuroplasticity, Transcription Factors, RT/PCR Developmental Disorders, Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Fulton T. Crews (133) Molecular Aspects of Neuronal Vitality and Alcohol
Stephen T. Crews (129) Molecular Genetics of Drosophila Nervous System Development, Control of Neural Gene Regulation
Linda Dykstra (51) Behavioral Pharmacology, Opioid Analgesics, Opioid/Immune Interactions
Gregory K. Essick (106) Somatosensory Psychophysics and Neurophysiology
Paul B. Farel (11) Regulation of Neuron Number, Axon Guidance
Lawrence I. Gilbert (79) Biochemical and Molecular Insect Neuroendocrinology
John H. Gilmore (137) Human Brain Development, Immune Regulation of Neurodevelopment, Schizophrenia
Robert S. Greenwood (61) Neuropeptide and Neuroendocrine Plasticity and Seizures; Brain Growth and Development in Neuro-Fibromatosis
T. Kendall Harden (59) G-proteins, Phospholipase C, and Receptor-Mediated Regulation of Second Messenger Signaling; P2-purinergic Receptors
Mark Hollins (125) Somatosensory Information Processing, Tactile Perception, Pain
James F. Howard Jr. (93) Electrophysiology of Neuromuscular Disorders, Synaptic Transmission, Immunology of Myasthenia Gravis
Henry S. Hsiao (18) Sensors and Instrumentation, Computer Interfaces, Human Behavior/Memory, Audience Opinion Research, Telemedicine
Anthony LaMantia (146) Inductive Signaling and Control of Gene Expression in the Developing Forebrain/Inductive Control of Genes Related to Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases
Jean M. Lauder (71) Neurotransmitters as Developmental Signals, Prenatal Exposure to Drugs of Abuse and Environmental Neurotoxins, Effects on Developing Neurotransmitter Systems
Jeffrey A. Lieberman (141) Neurobiology of Psychotic Disorders, Psychopharmacology, Neuroimaging
P. Kay Lund (88) Growth Factors: Molecular Biology, Signal Transduction and Role in Nervous System during Development and Aging
Donald T. Lysle (122) Neuroimmunology, Learning Processes
Richard B. Mailman (82) Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology of Dopamine Receptors, Molecular Drug Design
William Maixner (112) Pain Mechanisms and Analgesia
Patricia F. Maness (90) Cell Adhesion and Signal Transduction in Developing Neurons
Paul B. Manis (151) Cellular Basis of Auditory Information Processing in Brainstem and Cortex
Ken D. McCarthy (77) Neuronal-Glial Interactions Studied in Hippocampal Brain Slices Using Electrophysiology, Confocal Imaging, and Conditional Gene Knockout Mice
Gerhard W. Meissner (55) Excitation-Contraction Coupling, Intracellular Calcium Release Channels
A. Leslie Morrow (121) Molecular Neurobiology of GABAA Receptors and Alcoholism
Robert A. Nicholas (147) Signaling and Targeting Pathways of P2Y Nucleotide Receptors
Cort A. Pedersen (91) Neuroendocrinology and Neuropharmacology of Parenting and Sexual Behavior, Behavioral and Psychological Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin, Psychobiology of Postpartum Depression
Edward R. Perl (35) Functional Organization and Synaptic Mechanisms for Pain and Other Somatic Sensations
Peter Petrusz (36) Neuroendocrinology, Reproductive Biology
Mitchell J. Picker (128) Behavioral Pharmacology of Opioids, Drug Tolerance and Cross-Tolerance, Sex and Genetic Determinants of Opioid Sensitivity
Joseph Piven, Pathogenesis of Autism including Neural Mechanisms, Genetic
Basis, and Neuropsychological and Behavioral Phenotype.
Aldo Rustioni (50) Excitatory and Inhibitory Neurotransmitters in Somesthesis
Richard J. Samulski (135) Development of Viral Vectors for Brain Specific Gene Delivery
Robert Sealock (58) Cell Biology and Biochemistry of the Neuromuscular Junction, Dystrophin and Dystrophin-Associated Proteins
Paul G. Shinkman (41) Neural and Behavioral Plasticity in Sensory Systems, Cerebellar Mechanisms of Learning and Memory
William D. Snider (148) Developmental Regulation of Neuronal Growth Factors
Ann E. Stuart (76) Mechanisms and Control of Histamine Release and Re-uptake at Photoreceptor Synapses and their Effect on Signal Transfer
Kathleen K. Sulik (131) Teratology, Embryology
Kinuko I. Suzuki (96) Neuropathology of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Glial Reactions to CNS/PNS Degeneration
Jenny P. Ting (105) Use of Murine Models to Study the Role and Regulation of Inflammatory Genes in Demyelination and Remyelination
Terry A. Van Dyke (143) Cell Growth Regulation, Cancer, Gene Expression
Barry L. Whitsel (46) Somatosensory Mechanisms
R. Mark Wightman (118) Neurotransmitters, Dopamine Reward Exocytosis, Neurochemistry
R. Haven Wiley (47) Social Organization and Communication in Vertebrates
Manzoor Bhat, Genetic Dissection of Axon-Glial Interactions in Drosophila and Mice
Regina M. Carelli (142) Behavioral Neurophysiology, Neurobiology of Drug Abuse, Brain Reward Systems
Richard E. Cheney (136) Molecular Motors in the Nervous System, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of the Cytoskeleton
James C. Garbutt (134) Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology of Alcoholism
Michael F. Goy (111) Biochemistry and Physiology of Excitable Cells, Synapse Formation, Second Messenger Mechanisms in Signal Transduction, Epithelial Biology
Clyde W. Hodge (150) Neurobehavioral Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics of Addiction
Lars Fredrik Jarskog, Molecular Mechanisms that contribute to the Neuropathology of Schizophrenia
Josephine Johns, Behavioral Pharmacology, Toxicology, Teratology, Neuroendocrinology
Kenneth J. Lohmann (130) Animal Navigation, Neuroethology of Magnetic Orientation Behavior, Neural Control of Cilia
Glenn K. Matsushima (139) Neuroimmunology, Function of Activated Microglia in Neurodegenerative Disease
Sharon L. Milgram (140) Protein Trafficking and Cell Signaling in Polarized Cells, Role of Scaffolding and Adaptor Proteins in Polarized Cells
Robert L. Rosenberg (115) Regulation of Ion Channels
Todd Thiele, Neurobiology of Alcoholism
Ellen R. Weiss (144) Regulation of G Protein Signaling Pathways; Visual Signal Transduction
Eva Anton, Molecular Analysis of Neuronal Migration and Layer Formation in Cerebral Cortex
Aysenil Belger, Cortical Circuits Underlying Attention and Executive Function in the Human Brain
Jay Brenman, Neuronal Dendrite and Axon Morphologies
Mohanish Deshmukh, Neuronal Apoptosis
Joseph Hopfinger, Reflexive Attention Mechanisms, Spatiotemporal Analyses of Voluntary Attention, Attentional Control Mechanisms, Studies of Memory Mechanisms
Xuemei Huang, Structural Basis for Parkinson's Signs and Symptoms; Etiologic Factors in Parkinson's Disease
Carl J. Malanga, Child Neurology, Movement Disorders
Carol Otey, Mechanisms of Cell Motility and Adhesion
Larysa Pevny, Neural Induction, Neurogenesis, SOX Proteins
Benjamin Philpot, Modification of the Cerebral Cortex by Sensory Experience
Franck Polleux, Identification of the Cues and Signaling Pathways Underlying the Development of Connections in the Mammalian Cerebral Cortex
Doug Fitzpatrick, Sound Localization Pathways
Chistina Grobin, Neuroactive Steroids in the Brain
Rick B. Meeker (107) Neuroendocrine Regulation, Glutamate Receptors, Mechanisms of AIDS Dementia
Juli Valtschanoff, Vanilloid Receptors in Nociception
Richard Weinberg, Postsynaptic Mechanisms of Glutamatergic Transmission
The Neurobiology Curriculum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill includes faculty from the departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Anesthesiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Biostatistics, Chemistry, Medicine, Neurology, Oral Biology, Oral Surgery, Pathology, Pharmacology, Cell and Molecular Physiology, Psychiatry, Psychology, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Mathematics, and from the Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology and the Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. The theme unifying members of these diverse departments is a desire to understand the mechanisms through which the nervous system functions. While sharing this fundamental interest in the nervous system, research techniques used by members of the curriculum are quite diverse and provide the student with the opportunity to master a wide variety of laboratory skills.
Graduate students working toward the PhD in neurobiology must take NBIO 411, 412, 422, 701 or 702, 710, 722 and 723, 850, and 994.
The minor in neurobiology consists of a minimum of fifteen hours of courses selected from the list below with the approval of the director.
Fellowships, commensurate with usual grants-in-aid, are available to support graduate students who are working toward the PhD degree under the direction of a faculty member in the neurobiology curriculum and who major in neurobiology. After the first year, graduate students receive travel awards to attend national scientific meetings.
Applicants are urged to complete their applications by January 1.
400 [101C] CONDITIONING AND LEARNING (PSYC 400) (3). Prerequisite, PSYC 222. A comprehensive survey of the methods, findings, and theories of classical and operant conditioning. Students develop skills necessary to evaluate, integrate, and summarize significant original literature. Fall. Eckerman.
401 [102B] BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF BEHAVIOR (PSYC 401) (3). Prerequisite, PSYC 222 or BIOL 101. Ethological, genetic, and physiological variables are studied in relation to their behavior effects. Fall and spring. Gariepy, Lysle.
402 [106B] PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY (PSYC 402) (3). Prerequisite, PSYC 101, PSYC 220, or permission of the instructor. Elements of neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, and neurochemistry as they apply to the understanding of brain-behavior relationships. (As announced.) Carelli.
411 [111], 412 [112] NEUROBIOLOGY LABORATORY APPRENTICESHIP (3-9). Prerequisite, permission of the director of training in the neurobiology curriculum. A laboratory-tutorial course to acquaint the student with methods used in several areas of neurobiology. Fall and spring. Faculty of the neurobiology curriculum.
422 [122] DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY (PHYI 122) (3). Prerequisites, NBIO 222 and permission of the instructor. Principles of developmental biology applied to the nervous system. Mechanisms that guide differentiation of neurons and circuits. Development of distinct neural systems including the visual, auditory and somatosensory systems. Spring. LaMantia, faculty.
450 [150] NEUROBIOLOGY (3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. A tutorial in selected topics in neurobiology tailored to meet interests of the students and competencies of instructors. Fall and spring. Staff.
701 [201A] BEHAVIOR AND ITS BIOLOGICAL BASES I (PSYC 701) (3). A survey of psychological and biological approaches to the study of sensory and perceptual information processing; perceptual development. Fall. Staff.
702 [202A] BEHAVIOR AND ITS BIOLOGICAL BASES II (PSYC 702) (3). A survey of psychological and biological approaches to the study of basic learning and higher integrative processing. Spring. Staff.
703 [204] ADVANCED BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY: CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (PSYC 703) (3). Prerequisite, PSYC 402 or equivalent. Each fall one specific topic is covered in depth; e.g., neural bases of memory storage, homeostasis, and perception. Format includes lecture and seminar meetings with student presentations. Fall. Shinkman.
704 [207] APPLICATIONS OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY TO HEALTH RESEARCH (PSYC 704) (3). This course provides a critical analysis of interdisciplinary research within experimental psychology, including such topics as psychopharmacology, psychoneuroimmunology, psychophysiology, and animal models of brain/behavior disorders. Fall. Carelli, Dykstra, Girdler, Light, Lysle, Picker.
705 [323] BEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY (PSYC 705) (PHCO 705) (3). Prerequisite, PSYC 404 or permission of the instructor. Basic principles of pharmacology and behavior analysis are considered in relation to drugs that affect the central nervous system. Spring. Dykstra.
708 [302] SEMINAR IN THE BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY (PSYC 708) (3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Limited to graduate students in Psychology and Neurobiology. Lectures and seminar presentations on a wide range of topics in the area of physiological psychology. Fall and spring. Carelli.
710 [210] MEDICAL NEUROBIOLOGY (PHYI 710) (3). Prerequisite, permission of the course director. A special segment of the Neurobiology course for medical students (for neurobiology graduate students only). Structural and functional organization is analyzed at the level of the cell membrane, the neuron, and integrated neuronal systems. Spring. Farel, staff.
722A [222A] CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY: INTRODUCTION (BIOC 722A) (PHCO 722A) (PHYI 722A) (2). Prerequisite, permission of the course director. Introductory section covers basic neurobiology, including neuronal cell biology, action potentials, synaptic potentials, molecular biology, and neuroanatomy. Course meets four weeks with six lecture hours per week. Fall. Stuart.
722B [222B] CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY: POSTSYNAPTIC MECHANISMS-RECEPTORS (BIOC 722B) (PHCO 722B) (PHYI 722B) (2). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Consideration of membrane receptor molecules activated by neurotransmitters in the nervous system with emphasis on ligand binding behavior and molecular and functional properties of different classes of receptors. Course meets for four weeks with six lecture hours per week. Fall. Stuart.
722C [222C] CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY: ELECTRICAL SIGNALING (BIOC 722C) (PHCO 722C) (PHYI 722C) (2). Prerequisite, permission of the course director. The genesis of electrical impulses in the nervous system is considered with an emphasis on membrane potentials, voltage-gated ion channels, and structural features of neurons that influence coding. Course meets for five weeks with six lecture hours per week. Fall. Stuart.
723A [223A] PRESYNAPTIC MECHANISMS (BIOC 723A) (PHCO 723A) (PHYI 723A) (2). Prerequisite, permission of the course director. Explores biochemical signal transduction events following activation of neurotransmitter receptors including G-protein coupling, desensitization, signaling specificity, downstream effectors, calcium signaling and tryosine kinases. Course meets for five weeks with six lecture hours per week. Spring. Stuart.
723B [223B] INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING (BIOC 723B) (PHCO 723B) (PHYI 723B) (2). Prerequisite, permission of the course director. Explores the mechanisms regulating the release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals, including quantal release, vesicle and terminal membrane proteins, neurotransmitter transporters, and plasticity of synaptic transmission. Course meets for five weeks with six lecture hours per week. Spring. Stuart, faculty.
723C [223C] CNS: ANATOMY AND FUNCTION (2). Prerequisite, permission of the course director. Neuroanatomy will examine the organization of human and animal brains for processing different sensory modalities, with emphases on anatomical techniques and relating structure to function.
724 [224] PAIN AND SOMATIC SENSATION (PHYI 724) (2). Prerequisite, PHYI 200 or equivalent. Consideration of peripheral and central neural mechanisms for somatic sensation with particular emphasis on pain. Spring. Perl.
725 [225] EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY (3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Six or more laboratory hours a week. On occasion. Staff of neurobiology curriculum.
728 [228] DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM (2). Prerequisites, NBIO 222 and 223 or NBIO 201. Explores the basic neurobiology and the clinical aspects of a range of diseases of the nervous system, including ALS, Alzheimer's, autism, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, deafness, epilepsy, pain, brain tumors, stroke, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Fall. Gilmore, Manis, staff.
729 [221] SENSORY NEURAL INFORMATION PROCESSING AND REPRESENTATION (3).
735 [235] SEMINAR IN CHEMICAL NEUROBIOLOGY (2). Prerequisite, two semesters of biochemistry. Fall. (Alternate years.) Morell.
850 [290] SEMINAR IN NEUROBIOLOGY (BIOL 80) (NBIO 850) (PHYI 850) (PHCO 850) (3). Prerequisite, permission of the director of the neurobiology curriculum. An intensive consideration of selected topics and problems in neurobiology. The course focuses on the development of presentation and evaluation skills of the trainees. Six credit hours required for neurobiology graduates. Spring. Faculty of the neurobiology curriculum.
857 [259] SEMINAR IN COMPARATIVE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (BIOL 857) (2). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Fall or spring. Staff.
858 [260] SEMINAR IN COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY (BIOL 858) (2). Prerequisite, BIOL 451 or permission of the instructor. Fall or spring. Staff.
891 [211], 892 [212] SPECIAL TOPICS IN PHYSIOLOGY (PHYI 891, 892) (1-5). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Individually arranged in-depth programs of selected topics such as membrane function, transport physiology, renal physiology, etc. Fall and spring. Staff.
951 [310] RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY (PHCO 951) (PHYI 951) (BIOL 951) (3-12). Prerequisite, permission of a staff member. Research in various aspects of neurobiology. Six to twenty-four hours a week. Fall and spring. Faculty of the neurobiology curriculum.
994 [394] DOCTORAL DISSERTATION (Var.). Fall, spring, and summer. Research adviser.