Introduction to Neurology 
Syllabus
400:127g 
Dr. Linda L. Walsh
Spring, 1999  
11:00 MWF   Sabin 103


Table of Contents
Professor   Textbooks and Readings   Course Objectives   Class Schedule
Requirements   Grading Scale
Neurology Resources & Powerpoint Notes   Neuroanatomy Resources
Meet My Family   My Garden   Our Pet Buffy


 

PROFESSOR: Dr. Linda L. Walsh
Office: Baker 441         Office Hours: 9:00 - 10:30 daily; other 
Mailbox: Baker 334       times by appointment; drop-bys welcome.
Phone: 273-2690          Email: walsh
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Interactive Class Schedule & Reading Assignments
C numbers refer to pages in the coloring book, SG numbers refer to pages in the
studyguide, and underlined text refers to World Wide Web documents linked to
our online syllabus at http://www.uni.edu/walsh/neuro99.html
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Tentative Schedule
Date Day Topic Reading/Coloring Assignment
01-11  M Introduction to Neurology Syllabus; C-Preface and "How to" pages, C 1-1 thru 1-6; C 5-44; 
SG 2 
Explore the NS 
King's Brain Tutorial 
Imaging
01-13  W CNS Protection: Bone, Meninges & Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) C 9-10 
The Dura Mater The Meninges(P)  
The Falx Cerebri(P); Meninges(P)
01-15   F  The Ventricles; Hydrocephalus C 9-11 & 9-12; SG 3 
CSF & Ventricles 
Hydrocephalus
01-20  W When Protection's Not Enough: 
Head Injury 
SG 4-7

Head Injury (1) and (2) 
General Principles of Head Injuries;  
Concussions and Worse; Intracranial Bleeding 
01-22   F Postconcussive/Posttraumatic Effects SG 8 
Post-Concussion Syndrome; 
After You've Had a Concussion 
01-25  M The Cells of the Nervous System ; 
C 2-1, 2-4 (top only), 2-6, 7-2; 

SG 9 
Neurotransmission 
Neurotransmitters 
01-27  W When Transmitters Don't Work : Myasthenia Gravis, Botulism, & Black Widow Venom
C 2-12; SG 10-11
Myasthenia Gravis 

Brain Tumor1; Brain Tumor2; 
Brain Tumor3

Optional: Doug's Brain Tumor
01-29  F Glia Gone Bad: Multiple Sclerosis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and Brain Tumors 
SG12-13
Guillain-Barre Syndrome 

What is MS?   MS2 
Optional: Patient with GBS
02-01  M Meningitis, Encephalitis, & the Effects of Infection of the Nervous System
Bacterial Meningitis - Hib SG14
Viral Meningitis; Infectious Disease 
Viral Infections 
Bacterial Infections 
02-03  W
02-05  F TEST 1!!
02-8  M Development of the Nervous System C 3-1 thru 3-7 
Developmental Neuroanatomy:  
Review of Developmental Disorders
02-10  W Problems of Development: 
Neural Tube Defects; FAS; 
Cerebral Palsy
SG15-17 

Cerebral Palsy
02-12  F Introduction to the Spinal Cord C 4-1 thru 4-3; C 7-3, 7-4
02-15  M Ascending Somatosensory Pathways; 
C 2-9; 4-4 thru 4-6; SG18

Tracts of the spinal cord; 
Spinal Anatomy, Part 1 
Pain Pathway
02-17  W Disorders of the Ascending Paths; 
Neurology of Pain; Herpes Zoster
C 5-34 
Syringomyelia Facts; Herpes Zoster 
Herpes Zoster Images 
02-19  F Descending Motor Pathways; 
Symptoms of LMN and UMN Damage
C 4-9; SG29-32

*C 4-10 thru 4-12 (function not figure) 
Motor Pathways; SG19 
Spinal anatomy(Part 2)

MS Article " ALS, MS-What's the Difference?" Optional: Patient with Lou Gehrig's Disease
02-22  M Spinal Cord Injury
Questions about Spinal Cord Injury 

Spinal Cord Injury Statistics 
Spinal cord Injury
02-24  W
02-26  F Test 2
03-01  M Brainstem & Cranial Nerves 
*study level of brain, function, & signs of dysfunction of each cranial nerve
C 5-1, 5-2, 6-1, 6-2 
*6-5, 6-7, 6-9 thru 6-11, 6-13 thru 6-17, 6-19, 6-21 thru 6-26* 
SG20-21 
Cranial Nerves 
Neuroscience for Kids - Cranial Nerves
03-03  W
Cranial Nerves continued
03-05  F The Cerebellum C 5-13,5-15 
Cerebellar Atrophy  
Movement Disorders
03-08  M The Cerebellum continued
03-10  W The Basal Ganglia  C 5-24, 5-25, 5-37 
The Basal Ganglia (see athetosis, chorea & ballism) 
Anatomy of the Basal Ganglia
03-12  F Extrapyramidal Disorders 
Submit references of 3 journal article alternatives
Huntington's Disease

Parkinson's Disease; SG22-24
SPRING BREAK!
03-22  M Extrapyramidal Disorders continued 
Film: Twitch and Shout on Tourette's
03-24  W The Hypothalamus C 5-20
03-26  F The Hypothalamus continued 
 
03-29  M The Autonomic Nervous System 
Journal summary & list of terms due 
C 8-1 thru 8-4

What is Autonomic Dysreflexia? Spinal Cord Injury & the ANS
03-31  W
04-01  F Test 3
04-05  M The Cerebral Cortex & Thalamus C 5-16, 5-29, 5-30, 5-33
04-07  W Epilepsy 
Epilepsy syndromes page 
Partial Seizures ; SG 25-26
04-09  F Seizures Disorders continued;
04-12  M Introduction to the Frontal Lobes SG27
04-14  W Frontal Lobes Frontal Lobe1 
Unraveling the Mystery of the Frontal Lobes
04-16  F Parietal Lobes 
+5 for early papers
SG28-29

Parietal Lobe  
04-19  M Parietal Lobes continued 
Papers Due Today
04-21  W Temporal Lobes & Limbic System
C 5-26 Temporal Lobe

SG30 
Korsakoff's Syndrome
04-23  F Language Areas of the Brain  SG31-32
04-26  M Blood Supply to the Nervous System  C 9-1 thru 9-8
04-28 T Cerebrovascular Accidents; 
Vascular Dementia
Cerebral Vascular Disease  
Atherosclerosis SG33 
Arteriosclerosis; Infarcts 
Cerebral Hemorrhage
04-30 TH Test 4
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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 Terms:
Neuroscience for Kids - Glossary                  Etymology of Neuroscience Terms

General Neuroanatomy Resources

Description
The actual brain High quality images of the brain from all views (very graphic - not for the feeble hearted).
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.
Voxel man images A series of images generated with a 3 dimensional imaging software - labeled with structure names. 
See our Neurology Resource Page for more links to websites related to specific disorders.
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Requirements. There will be 2 out-of-class "paper assignments" this semester -
 one during each half of the semester:

Neurological/Neuropsychological Personal Account on the Web
For this assignment you will search the web for a fairly detailed personal account of an individual dealing with some neurological disorder. It should provide some specifics on symptoms experienced and the impact of the disorder on the individual's functioning. It might also describe the onset and progression (if any) of the disorder and how it has been treated. You will write a description of the major features of the disorder and the effects it typically has on  nervous system functioning, highlighting the brain regions/systems involved, key neurotransmitters (if any), treatment, and so forth, relating your review of the dysfunction to what the individual is experiencing.  You will save your file on disk in .htm or .html format (or in plain text format, if necessary), including a link to the URL of case you have found, so I can post your report on the web. I will post a sample case on the web and be available to provide assistance.

Recent Neurological Research
For this assignment you will turn in the abstracts of 3 recent neurological research reports for approval. From the approved articles you will select 1 to "explain" to a layperson audience via your paper, explaining the underlying neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, neurological disorder and symptoms, research methods, etc. A more detailed description is included 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).

Completing  Coloring Book Figures (up to ~120 pts)

Carefully coloring diagrams in the coloring book as directed helps store images that can aid your recall of this material. Alternatively, carefully drawing your own pictures of the functional anatomy we are covering can improve your memory for this content as well. Completion of 5 figures in our book (corresponding to the chapters we are covering) turned in on the day of the test over that chapter can earn you 10 points. (on average each test covers about 15 figures so you could earn ~30 points per exam period just for using this study aid). Please stick to multiples of 5 figures so I will always be awarding 10, 20, or 30 points.

Create a Brain Model (up to 30 pts)

Using Play-Doh or other modeling material, create a detailed and labeled model of either a) a lateral view of the brain, including all regions of the cortex, b) a midline view  of the brain, or c) the brainstem (medulla through thalamus). Try to label 15 structures, areas, landmarks, etc. to earn your 30 points. Due by midterm.

Conduct an Interview

If you are acquainted with someone with a serious neurological problem and they are willing, arrange to interview them about their disorder. Or, if it is more appropriate, interview family members that have observed and coped with the effects of the neurological problem. Plan for your interview carefully, doing some reading to help prepare a good list of questions. Be sensitive but try to learn as much as you can to prepare you for future encounters with individuals with similar conditions. Prepare a report on the individual(s), the setting and the interview responses. If you feel you and your interviewee are up to it, a videotape of your "investigative report" could be an alternative. Due by 4/23. 50 pt

Do you have an idea of another type of Optional Assignment that would allow you to learn about neuroanatomy/neurology (and demonstrate that learning in a novel way) that would better fit your career goals and talents? Come see me!

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 summmary 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. Tests be worth approximately 125 points each plus a couple extra credit points. The 2 outside assignments are worth 100 points eachfor undergraduates.
Test 1         125 + a couple extra credit
Test 2         125 + a couple extra credit
Test 3         125 + a couple extra credit
Final           125 + a couple extra credit
Case Report 100
*Neurological Research 100 (150 for grad students)
*Total =       ~700 + some extra credit
*Grad student research report paper is more extensive than that of the undergrads and is worth 150 points.**Completion of option assignments changes the points possible from the 700 listed above.

  • 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 (16), Sara (13), & Annie (9))
    Hobbies:  Gardening, gourmet cooking, travel, volleyball, 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 the Goodyear 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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    E-mail Linda Walsh
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    This page was prepared by Linda Walsh, Dept. of Psychology,
    University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0505 for the
    class Introduction to Neurology. (400:127). Last updated 12/29/98.