2025-26 Edition

Department of Neurobiology and Behavior

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Marcelo Wood, Department Chair
Kim Green, Department Vice Chair
2205 McGaugh Hall
949-824-8519
http://neurobiology.uci.edu/

The Department of Neurobiology and Behavior programs provide a broad foundation in neuroscience combined with proficiency in a specific area of research. Faculty members in the Department address questions in neuroscience at the molecular, cellular, systems, and behavioral levels. Research focuses on a range of topics including learning and memory, neurodegenerative disorders, addiction, sensory neurobiology, developmental neurobiology, and neural plasticity.

Faculty

Kevin T. Beier, Ph.D. Harvard University, Associate Director, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program and Associate Professor of Physiology and Biophysics; Biomedical Engineering; Neurobiology and Behavior; Pharmaceutical Sciences (neuroscience, neural circuits, neural plasticity, molecular neuroscience, behavior, technique development, viral-genetic)
Mathew M. Blurton-Jones, Ph.D. University of California, San Diego, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Jorge A. Busciglio, Ph.D. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Lawrence F. Cahill, Ph.D. University of California, Irvine, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior; Psychological Science
Liz Chrastil, Ph.D. Brown University, Associate Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior; Cognitive Sciences
Susana Cohen-Cory, Ph.D. The Rockefeller University, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Karina S. Cramer, Ph.D. California Institute of Technology, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Laura A. Ewell, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin, Associate Director of Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program and Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology; Neurobiology and Behavior
Norbert Fortin, Ph.D. Boston University, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Christie Fowler, Ph.D. Florida State University, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Ron D. Frostig, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior; Biomedical Engineering
Christine M. Gall, Ph.D. University of California, Irvine, Departmental Chair and Daniel G. Aldrich Jr., Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology; Neurobiology and Behavior
Kim Green, Ph.D. University of Leeds, Department Vice Chair and Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Albert R. La Spada, M.D., Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania, Associate Dean for Research Development and Distinguished Professor of Biological Chemistry; Neurobiology and Behavior; Neurology; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D. University of Minnesota, Dean of the School of Biological Sciences and Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior; Neurology
Thomas E. Lane, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Michael Leon, Ph.D. University of Chicago, Professor Emeritus of Neurobiology and Behavior
Audrey Chen Lew, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, Associate Professor of Teaching of Neurobiology and Behavior
Gyorgy Lur, Ph.D. University of Liverpool, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Stephen V. Mahler, Ph.D. University of Michigan, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
James L. McGaugh, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley, Research Professor and Professor Emeritus of Neurobiology and Behavior
Bruce L. McNaughton, Ph.D. Carleton University, Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Raju Metherate, Ph.D. McGill University, Associate Dean and Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Andrea C. Nicholas, Ph.D. University of Chicago, Professor of Teaching of Neurobiology and Behavior
Sean B. Ostlund, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care; Neurobiology and Behavior
Diego Pizzagalli, Ph.D. University of Zurch, Switzerland, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior; Biomedical Engineering
Eitan Schechtman-Drayman, Ph.D. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Craig Stark, Ph.D. Carnegie Mellon University, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior; Cognitive Sciences
Oswald Steward, Ph.D. University of California, Irvine, Director, Reeve-Irvine Research Center and Reeve-Irvine Endowed Chair in Spinal Cord Injury Research and Distinguished Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology; Neurobiology and Behavior
Georg F. Striedter, Ph.D. University of California, San Diego, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Katumi Sumikawa, Ph.D. Imperial College London, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Vivek Swarup, Ph.D. University of Laval, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Andrea Tenner, Ph.D. University of California, San Diego, Professor Emerita of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry; Neurobiology and Behavior; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Leslie M. Thompson, Ph.D. University of California, Irvine, Chancellor's Professor and Donald Bren Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior; Biological Chemistry; Neurobiology and Behavior
Marcelo A. Wood, Ph.D. Princeton University, Department Chair and Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
Michael Yassa, Ph.D. University of California, Irvine, UCI Chancellor's Fellow, and Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and James L. McGaugh Chair in the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory and Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior; Anatomy and Neurobiology; Psychological Science

Courses

NEURBIO 200A.  Research in Neurobiology and Behavior.  2-12 Units.  
Individual research with Neurobiology and Behavior faculty.
Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary  
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 200B.  Research in Neurobiology and Behavior.  2-12 Units.  
Individual research with Neurobiology and Behavior faculty.
Prerequisite: NEURBIO 200A with a minimum grade of B-.   
Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary  
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 200C.  Research in Neurobiology and Behavior.  2-12 Units.  
Individual research with Neurobiology and Behavior faculty.
Prerequisite: NEURBIO 200B with a minimum grade of B-.   
Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary  
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 201A.  Research in Neurobiology and Behavior.  2-12 Units.  
Individual research with Neurobiology and Behavior faculty.
Grading Option: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only  
Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary  
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 201B.  Research in Neurobiology and Behavior.  2-12 Units.  
Individual research with Neurobiology and Behavior faculty.
Prerequisite: NEURBIO 201A with a minimum grade of B-.   
Grading Option: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only  
Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary  
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 201C.  Research in Neurobiology and Behavior.  2-12 Units.  
Individual research with Neurobiology and Behavior faculty.
Prerequisite: NEURBIO 201B with a minimum grade of B-.   
Grading Option: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only  
Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary  
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 202A.  Foundations of Neuroscience.  2 Units.  
Intended to expose students to critical reading and analysis of the primary neuroscience literature. Instructors from departments associated with the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program participate and discuss topics of current interest.
Grading Option: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only  
NEURBIO 202B.  Foundations of Neuroscience.  2 Units.  
Intended to expose students to critical reading and analysis of the primary neuroscience literature. Instructors from departments associated with the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program participate and discuss topics of current interest.
Prerequisite: NEURBIO 202A with a minimum grade of B-.   
Grading Option: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only  
NEURBIO 206.  Molecular Neuroscience.  5 Units.  
Surveys molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in neuronal function, including control of gene expression, post-transcriptional and post-translational processing, RNA and protein targeting, cell death mechanisms, and molecular genetic basis of neurological disorders. Overview of the molecular aspects of developmental neurobiology.
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 207.  Cellular Neuroscience.  5 Units.  
Neurophysiological and neurochemical mechanisms of electrical and chemical signaling in neurons. Topics include generation of resting- and action-potentials, voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, second messenger systems, and synaptic transmission and integration.
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 208.  Systems Neuroscience.  5 Units.  
Study of the mammalian nervous system at the systems level. Anatomy and physiology of sensory, motor, and integrative functions.
Same as ANATOMY 210A  
Repeatability: May be taken for credit 2 times  
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 209.  Behavioral Neuroscience.  5 Units.  
Overview of fundamental conceptual and experimental issues in the neurobiology of learning and memory. The approach is a cross-level integration of research in molecular-genetic, cellular, circuit, systems, and behavioral analyses.
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 217.  Foundations in Neuroimmunology II.  4 Units.  
The immune system supports normal brain development as well as controls central nervous system (CNS) infection, and neurodegenerative and neurological diseases. Assesses how the immune system contributes to both host defense and disease.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate- or graduate-level immunology experience is required.  
Concurrent: BIO SCI N127  
NEURBIO 220.  Neural Coding, Computation, and Dynamics.  4 Units.  
Theoretical principles and biological mechanisms underlying how brains acquire, assimilate, store, and retrieve information, compute adaptive responses to external inputs, and how knowledge is extracted from experience to generate an internal model of the world.
Prerequisite: At least one upper-division course in the field of Neuroscience or one upper-division course in Cognitive Science or Machine Learning.  
Concurrent: BIO SCI N174  
NEURBIO 227.  Bioinformatics and Systems Biology.  4 Units.  
Students learn the fundamentals of bioinformatics, genomic approaches, and Linux and R program in order to analyze RNA-sequencing data.
Overlaps with ECO EVO 282, ECO EVO 283.  
NEURBIO 230.  Epigenetics in Health and Disease .  4 Units.  
Focuses on the role of chromatin/nuclear structure organization (histone and DNA modification, chromatin remodeling, higher order chromatin structure and nuclear organization) on gene regulation, DNA replication and repair, relevant to development, metabolism, learning and memory, and human disease.
Prerequisite: MOL BIO 203 with a minimum grade of B- or MOL BIO 204 with a minimum grade of B- or NEURBIO 206 with a minimum grade of B-.   
Same as BIOCHEM 225  
NEURBIO 231.  Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects of Neurodegenerative Diseases.  4 Units.  
Clinical and epidemiological aspects of neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia will be reviewed, including AD, PD, FTD, HD and cerebrovascular disease. Seminar format will include student presentations and group discussion.
NEURBIO 233.  Neurobiology of Drug Addiction.  4 Units.  
Provides a comprehensive overview of topics in the addiction field, including drug pharmacology, models/approaches to investigate addiction, brain circuits, genetics, epigenetics, and the cellular and molecular biology of drug addiction.
Concurrent: BIO SCI N121  
NEURBIO 237.  Neurobiology of Aging and Alzheimer's Disease.  4 Units.  
Outlines changes occurring in aging and Alzheimer’s disease, and clinical manifestations of those changes. Emphasis on genetic and lifestyle risk factors, molecular mechanisms that are basis for detrimental and protective responses, diagnosis, and developing therapies for aging and Alzheimer's disease.
Prerequisite: NEURBIO 209 with a minimum grade of B-.   
NEURBIO 239.  Functional Imaging of the Nervous System.  4 Units.  
Overview of technical and applied aspects of imaging techniques available for studying the nervous system. The areas emphasized are cellular and subcellular imaging of neural function, systems-level imaging of brain function, and imaging of the human brain.
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 240.  Advanced Analysis of Learning and Memory.  4 Units.  
Advanced analysis of contemporary research concerning the nature and neurobiological bases of learning and memory. Special emphasis is given to time-dependent processes involved in memory storage.
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 247.  Programming for Neuroscience Research .  4 Units.  
A neuroscience-specific introduction to programming and data analysis using either MATLAB or Scientific PYTHON. Students will learn general programming skills and effective use of programming for data management, statistical analysis, and image analysis.
Overlaps with PSYCH 205A.  
NEURBIO 249.  Electronics for Biologists.  4 Units.  
Basic principles of electricity; properties and use of discrete components and integrated circuits; circuit analysis and design. Intended for advanced students in the life sciences.
Same as PHYSIO 205  
NEURBIO 257.  Statistics and Experimental Design.  4 Units.  
Introduction to common methods for statistical analysis used in neurobiology. Topics covered include t-tests, ANOVAs, correlations and regressions, general linear model, power analysis, and non-parametric tests.
NEURBIO 260.  Auditory Neuroscience.  4 Units.  
Multidisciplinary overview of brain mechanisms of hearing. Emphasizes breadth of auditory function and research: single neurons to psychoacoustics, the chochlea to the cortex, and basic science to clinic.
Concurrent: BIO SCI N147  
NEURBIO 290.  Colloquium in Neurobiology and Behavior.  1.3 Units.  
Presentation of contemporary research problems in neurobiology and behavior and related areas by invited speakers.
Grading Option: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only  
Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times  
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 291.  Neuroscience Journal Club.  1-3 Units.  
Covers emerging topics in addiction neuroscience research in a journal club format. Students discuss recent articles and may present an article of their choosing. Students gain skills in critical thinking and scientific communication.
Grading Option: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only  
Repeatability: May be taken 6 times as topics vary  
NEURBIO 292.  Scientific Proposals for Neuroscience Trainees.  4 Units.  
Students learn how to effectively communicate scientific ideas and results. Activities include learning how to effectively write a scientific proposal, how to perform a coherent, persuasive slide presentation, and how to give meaningful, constructive review critiques.
Restrictions: Neurobiology and Behavior majors only.   
NEURBIO 399.  University Teaching.  1-4 Units.  
Limited to Teaching Assistants.
Grading Option: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only  
Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times