Lecture 1

Biophysics, dynamics, neuron doctrines, and organization of the brain 

Required Reading

Note: For readings that are behind a paywall, see the password protected course page titled Readings.

  1. Apologia and Introduction of Cellular Biophysics and Modeling: A primer on the systems biology of excitable cells.  (15 pages)
  2. The organization of the brain. Nauta WJ, Feirtag M. Sci Am. 1979 Sep; 241(3):88-111. (Read the first half, pp. 17-25)
  3. Neuroscience. The neuron doctrine, redux. Bullock TH, Bennett MV, Johnston D, Josephson R, Marder E, Fields RD. Science. 2005 Nov 4;310(5749):791-3.

Resources (Optional)

  1. Polynomial functions and their graphs.”  Read the linked PDF and/or use that phrase to search for videos.
  2. A glossary of terms used in neuroanatomy. Appendix A in Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy: Evolution and Adaptation, Second Edition, by Ann B. Butler and William Hodos.

Futher Reading (Optional)

  1. Bringing cartoons to life. Tyson JJ. Nature. 2007 Feb 22;445(7130):823.
  2. Dynamic phenomena in cell biology and neuroscience. Sections 1.1 and 1.2 (pages 3-11) of Computational Cell Biology.  Fall, C.P., Marland, E.S., Wagner, J.M. and Tyson, J.J. (Eds.) 2002. Springer.  2002.  [Amazon] [PDF]

Fall 2025 Slides