1. Membrane Biophysics and Synaptic Physiology
Explanation of cellular and circuit communication using the basic principles of biophysics.
Explanation of basic biological phenomenon using physical principles.

2. Membrane Biophysics and Synaptic Physiology
Channel function
Channel function – mitochondrial channels as a model
Transporters
The classical biophysical transporter mechanisms
Unusual mechanisms of transport
Gap Junctions
Voltage gating, chemical gating, and permeation of gap junctions
Synaptic transmission
Calcium dependence of release, two models and mechanisms?
Multivesicular release, when and where?
Synaptic plasticity
Postsynaptic mechanisms, presynaptic mechanisms
Detailed mechanisms
Dendritic and synaptic integration
Direction selectivity as a model

3. Membrane Biophysics and Synaptic Physiology
What you need to do:
PARTICIPATE – sign up for paper presentations and read all assigned papers and come ready to discuss/question papers.
In small groups (1-3 people depending on class size) write a brief proposal to use biophysical or physiological methods to address an important (or interesting) question in neuroscience (see handout for details).