Course Syllabus

General course information and course lecture schedule

Course Information

Classroom

Hieber Building, BMP Classroom

Class Meetings

Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Time: 1:00-2:30 PM
Duration: May 14-June 24, 2025

Course Design

This class is designed to allow simultaneous in-person and online engagement. There is no obligation for students to attend class sessions in person.

Classroom lectures will be provided for students who desire an in-person experience. In addition, all lectures will be live-streamed via Zoom and recorded for asynchronous viewing. Students attending lectures remotely can ask questions by unmuting their microphone or via the chat function in Zoom.

Meeting ID: 983 4677 5625

Office Hours

Office hours will be conducted remotely via Zoom twice per week. There will be one morning and one evening session to accommodate all students. In addition, private sessions can be scheduled by emailing Dr. Yates.

Dr. Yates' Office Hours Schedule:

Wednesday: 6-7 PM

Meeting ID: 943 5383 1123

Grading

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

  • 60% from each of 2 exams (30% each)
  • 20% from group learning exercise presentation
  • 20% for homework (Tophat)

Final Grade Assignments

Letter grades will be assigned according to this scale, without exception:

A+
≥ 85
A
75 - 84
A-
71 - 74
B+
68 - 70
B
55 - 67
C
< 55

Exams

To make exams equitable for both in-person and remote learners, they will be conducted online. Students are welcome to come to the classroom to take the exam, or they may choose to take it remotely. For in-class exams, students must bring their own computer or device to complete the exam online. The link to the exam will be distributed at the beginning of the class session.

Exams are closed-book, and must be completed without the use of notes or other materials. Remote students must be logged into Zoom and must keep their camera on during the exam to verify compliance with the closed-book format.

Remote students can ask for clarifications about questions during the exam via the chat function of Zoom.

Exams will cover material presented in lectures and handouts.

If a legitimate reason (illness, death in family, medical school interview, etc.) prevents a student from taking an exam on the scheduled date, he or she must notify Dr. Yates in advance and pre-arrange an alternate time to take the exam. If arrangements are not made BEFOREHAND, the student will receive a failing grade for the exam.

Academic Integrity Statement

Cheating/plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students suspected of violating the University of Pittsburgh Policy on Academic Integrity, from the February 1974 Senate Committee on Tenure and Academic Freedom reported to the Senate Council, will be required to participate in the outlined procedural process as initiated by the instructor. A minimum sanction of a zero score for the quiz or exam will be imposed.

Disability Resource Statement

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Office of Disability Resources and Services, 140 William Pitt Union, 412-648-7890/412-624-3346 (Fax), as early as possible in the term. Disability Resources and Services will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.

Course Schedule

Date Topic

Week 1

19-May Tuesday Overview of the Nervous System 1
20-May Wednesday Overview of the Nervous System 2
21-May Thursday Overview of the Nervous System 3
22-May Friday Neurons, Glia, and CSF; Muscle Contraction and Malignant Hyperthermia
Pre-Recorded Lecture

Week 2

26-May Tuesday Spinal Cord & Pathways 1
27-May Wednesday Spinal Cord & Pathways 2
28-May Thursday Blood Supply to the Brain and Stroke
29-May Friday Brainstem 1

Week 3

2-Jun Tuesday Brainstem 2
3-Jun Wednesday Fundamentals of Motor Control
4-Jun Thursday Review Session
5-Jun Friday Exam 1

Week 4

9-Jun Tuesday Vestibular System and Cerebellum 1
10-Jun Wednesday Cerebellum 2 and Eye Movements
11-Jun Thursday Basal Ganglia, Parkinson's Disease, and Deep Brain Stimulation
12-Jun Friday Somatosensory System and Visual System 1

Week 5

16-Jun Tuesday Visual System 2 and Auditory System
17-Jun Wednesday Chemical Senses, Limbic System, Learning and Memory, Epilepsy 1
18-Jun Thursday Chemical Senses, Limbic System, Learning and Memory, Epilepsy 2
19-Jun Friday Juneteenth Holiday

Week 6

23-Jun Tuesday Student Presentations 1
24-Jun Wednesday Student Presentations 2
25-Jun Thursday Review Session
26-Jun Friday Final Exam