Neurobiology?

[AnesthesiaMD]

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Has anyone taken Neurobiology at his/her respective school? If so, how was it? Why might I need to be well versed in physics and o-chem (pre-reqs for Neuro at my school)? Thanks in advance.

 

[Meatwad]

Could be a couple of reasons.

1) They are "maturity," pre-reqs. This means they just want to try and weed out weaker students who can't hack difficult science courses.

or

2) They are actually pertinent. I'd guess it's this option. Needing to be knowledgeable in organic chemistry seems like a reasonable pre-req to learn about the complicated nature of chemical interactions in your nervous system, doesn't it? As for physics, maybe because of electrophysiology or some biophysical topics? Not sure, seeing as neither of these courses are required for neurobiology at my school. Can you get a syllabus or something?

 

[AnesthesiaMD]

Could be a couple of reasons.

1) They are "maturity," pre-reqs. This means they just want to try and weed out weaker students who can't hack difficult science courses.

or

2) They are actually pertinent. I'd guess it's this option. Needing to be knowledgeable in organic chemistry seems like a reasonable pre-req to learn about the complicated nature of chemical interactions in your nervous system, doesn't it? As for physics, maybe because of electrophysiology or some biophysical topics? Not sure, seeing as neither of these courses are required for neurobiology at my school. Can you get a syllabus or something?

I could email the professor and ask for one, I bet he doesn't have it together at this time though.

 

[nick_carraway]

I'm a neurobio/physio major.

Neurobio is pretty much the study of conduction through neurons and so concepts of voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, familiarity with electrical circuits will all come in handy.

Ochem may be needed to study chemical neurotransmission though most classes just want you to appreciate the structure of neurotransmitters but don't care much about it except for lipophilicity.

Physiology is merely physics in disguise and neurobio is no different.

 

[Meatwad]

I could email the professor and ask for one, I bet he doesn't have it together at this time though.

Could you email them and ask for the past semester's syllabus (if they taught it previously)? If not, find out the last prof that taught it and kindly request the old syllabus.

 

[njdmb820]

you don't need orgo, i have no idea why you'd need that. and you sort of need physics, i could understand why it's a prereq, however, you get all the formulas you'd ever need and they won't be found in your physics textbook. you do use some electricity stuff, but def no force (phys I) or magnetism.

 

[GuitarHero1]

I randomly tried to sign up for first semester neurobio before having taken physics or ochem and the online registrar let me register. I took it anyway and I got an A in the course because I was able to learn the physics concepts like resistance, capacitance, etc through the class. So it's possible to not even take these courses. Ochem was slightly important I thought just because my teacher went through how the neurotransmitters look which are organic molecules, but it was not as important as physics.

Personally, I think you can take the courses without these pre reqs, and if you need to review any physics concepts, look them up in another resource or book.

 

[Meatwad]

I randomly tried to sign up for first semester neurobio before having taken physics or ochem and the online registrar let me register. I took it anyway and I got an A in the course because I was able to learn the physics concepts like resistance, capacitance, etc through the class. So it's possible to not even take these courses. Ochem was slightly important I thought just because my teacher went through how the neurotransmitters look which are organic molecules, but it was not as important as physics.

Personally, I think you can take the courses without these pre reqs, and if you need to review any physics concepts, look them up in another resource or book.

Damn, nice job man!

 

[DMBdoc]

You need both. Look up the molecular structure of acetylcholine, etc. It won't make sense to you if you haven't taken orgo. As for the physics, the entire first half of the neurobio class at my school was circuits. The action potential, ion flow, etc is based upon electrical principals (V=IR), so a good physics background will help you. Gotta understand how the electrochemical gradient is set up...and if you take it, remember...it's all or nothing (the action potential that is).

you don't need orgo, i have no idea why you'd need that. and you sort of need physics, i could understand why it's a prereq, however, you get all the formulas you'd ever need and they won't be found in your physics textbook. you do use some electricity stuff, but def no force (phys I) or magnetism.

 

[AnesthesiaMD]

Well I've had all my Physics and Organic Chem and Human Physiology and have done well in all those courses except physics I in which I got a C (immature sophomore). I can understand why Physics is needed especially the electrical components but Orgo? C'mon...hah. Like someone said earlier, it could be a "maturity" pre-req.

 

[AnesthesiaMD]

Gotta understand how the electrochemical gradient is set up...and if you take it, remember...it's all or nothing (the action potential that is).

My prof. for this course is actually the same one I had for Physiology and he hammered these kinds of concepts so deep into our heads I don't think it would be possible for me to forget them 😉.

 

[DMBdoc]

word up, I agree. The physics is really the more necessary pre-req...we had to memorize a bunch of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, so the orgo only help with structural stuff, but no actual rxn type stuff.

My prof. for this course is actually the same one I had for Physiology and he hammered these kinds of concepts so deep into our heads I don't think it would be possible for me to forget them 😉.

 

[bostonpmed]

Wow, orgo as a pre req for neuro? I really never used orgo much at all during neuro and if I did it was something explained in lecture that we needent know before hand but, this also could be that only biology is a pre req for neuro at my school