Activities and Assignments
Updated: August 20, 2016. Class activities will include homework assignments and in-class activities. The course also will include a mixutre of individual and group activities. This page will be updated frequently as I post instructions and gudelines for the upcoming in-class and homework activities. Be sure to keep up to date on the schedule of assignments that is regularly updated on Canvas
Week 2 - Passive Property Simulations
We will complete several simulations of neural membrane function In class. For your homework you will be running a series of simulations to help you better understand the effects of membrane resistance and capacitance on the ways that membranes process information. Download and unzip this folder, which includes the instructions and the required simulation files that you will load using the Electrophysiology of the Neuron software.
- Instructions for the Unit 1 simulations
- The StepResistance.cc5 simulation file
- The StepCapacitance.cc5 simulation file
- The EPSCsingle_resistance.cc5 simulation file
- The EPSCtrainPassives.cc5 file
Week 4 - Ion gradient and Ion channel Simulations
We will complete another set of simulations in class to help reinforce your understanding of ion gradients, equilibrium potential, and ion channel function.
- Instructions for Units 2 and 3 simulations (includes homework assignment)
- The rest.CC5 simulation file
- The Na_K.VC5 simulation file
- The Na_K_IV.VC5 simulation file
Week 5 - The action potential
Simulations are essential to understanding the nuances of the action potential. Computational simulations reveal interactions that no one can measure directly. So - we will rely heavily on simluations for this unit. Files you will need:
- Instructions for the Unit 4 simulations (includes Homework 3 assignment)
- SingleAP_1.cc5 simulation file
- SingleAP_2.cc5 simulation file
- SingleAP_3.cc5 simulation file
- SingleAP_6.cc5 simulation file
Week 6: Ion channels part 2
An in-depth examination of the new ion channel types we introduced this week.
- Instructions for the Week 6 simulations (includes Homework 4 assignment)
- Blank channel properties table (MS word) to use in your homework if you want to
- CompareIK.vc5 simulation file
- CompareIKinact.vc5 simulation file
- CompareT_L.vc5 simulation file
- CompareT_L_inact.vc5 simulation file
- CompareBK simulation file
Week 7a: Ion channels part 2 (continued)
The simulations from Week 6 will continue.
Week 7b: Action Potential Part 2
- Instructions for the Unit 6 simulations (Includes Homework 5 assignment)
- Cell_challenge1.cc5 simulation file
- Cell_challenge2.cc5 simulation file
- Excel file for plotting dynamic range (F-I_plots.xlsx)
- Excel file for plotting spike frequency adaptation (ISI_plots.xlsx)
Week 8: Action Potential Ultimate Understanding
- Instructions for the Thalamic Relay Neuron simulations
- The Thalamic Relaty Neuron simulation file
Week 11: Synaptic transmission
- Instructions for Synaptic Simulations Part 1
- AnalyzePSP simulation file
Week 12: Synaptic transmission (continued)
- Instructions for Synaptic Simulations Part 2
- IPSPS.cc5 simulation file
- IP_EPSP.cc5 simulation file
Last update: August 20, 2016