Course work

Students who pursue Neuroscience are required to complete 6 units, including the requirement of ANES215.

Students should consult with the concentration director about their choice of one additional elective course to complete the unit requirement.

The one (or more) elective course should be a graduate level course(s) offered in one of the following five areas of Neuroscience:

  • Systems and Behavior
  • Molecular and Cellular
  • Developmental
  • Clinical
  • Computational


In addition, students are encouraged to participate in the annual Stanford Neuroscience Retreat.


Basic Science Courses under the Neurology & Neurological Sciences Scholarly Concentration

The following is a partial list of courses and clerkships that apply to the Application area in Neuroscience.  A full list will follow shortly.

NENS 204. Computational Neuroimaging
(Same as Psychology 204A). Advanced seminar. For students working with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Review of current understanding of the physiological basis of the signal measured using fMRI. Possibilities for experiment design and interpretation of the signal with respect to other physiological and behavioral measurements. Emphasis is on experimental design, software tools, and pulse sequences for fMRI experiments.
1-3 units (B. Wandell) alternate years, not offered 2003-04

NENS 205. Neurobiology of Disease
Case demonstrations of selected disorders, discussion of the pathophysiological basis of the disorder, presentation of the basic principles underlying modern diagnostic and therapeutic management, and a discussion of recent research advances for each disease entity. Prerequisite: Neurobiology 206 or consent of instructor.
Winter (Reimer, Yang) alternate years

NENS 216. Genetic Analysis of Behavior
Advanced seminar on the findings and implications of behavioral genetics as applied to both invertebrate and vertebrate model systems. Topics include: studies of biological clocks, sensation and central pattern generators; the course provides both an introduction to the relevant genetic techniques as well as a historical perspective. Study of original papers, directed discussions and student presentation.
4 units, Spr (T. Clandinin, M. Goodman) TBA, alternate years, offered 2005-2006

NENS 218. Neural Basis of Behavior
Advanced seminar explores the principles of information processing in the vertebrate central nervous system, and the relationship of functional properties of neural systems with perception and behavior. Emphasis is on the visual and auditory systems. Study of original papers, directed group discussions, and student presentations. Prerequisite: Neurobiology 200 or consent of instructor.
4 units, Spr (E. Knudsen, J. Raymond) alternate years, not offered 2003-04

NENS 220. Central Mechanism in Visual Perception
This course is a graduate level survey of contemporary visual neuroscience, emphasizing the neural mechanisms underlying primate vision and visually guided behavior. Class activities include: 1) lectures on seven foundational topics in visual neuroscience; 2) class discussion of current papers selected by the instructors concerning each foundational topic; 3) class presentations by students on additional topics; and 4) computer-based demonstration exercises that illustrate many of the basic principles and topics engaged during the course.
2-4 units, Spr ( W. Newsome ) alternate years, offered 2003-04

NENS 221. Frontiers in Translational Medicine
A small group course for first year MSTP and MD/PHD students only. Admission to the course is by permission from the instructor. Pathways for combining science and medicine during graduate and postdoctoral training and in one's career. Practical aspects of translational medicine. Guest lecturers include physician-scientists who have advanced the frontiers of translational medicine. Guest lecturers are physician-scientists who have advanced the frontiers of translational medicine. Speakers include Drs. Gilbert Chu, Jamie Topper, Irv WEissman, Ching Wang, Linda Giudice, Geoff Duyk, William Mobley, Judy Shizuru, and David Cox. (Barres)
1 Unit, Spr (B. Barres)

NENS 240. High Level Vision
(Enroll in Psychology 250).
1-3 units, Win (K. Grill-Spector)

NENS 254. Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology
(Same as Biological Sciences 154). Lecture/seminar for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. Focuses on cellular and molecular mechanisms in the organization and function of the nervous system. Topics include: cell biology of the neuron, wiring of the neuronal network, synapse structure and synaptic transmission, signal transduction in the nervous system, molecular basis of behavior including learning and memory, molecular pathogenesis of neurological diseases. Prerequisite for undergraduates: Bio 31 and 32 or equivalent, plus at least one of the following courses: 118, 119, 128, 129 or 153, or consent of the instructors.
4 units, Aut (L. Luo) TBA

NENS 450. Introduction to Biotechnology
(Same as Chemical Engineering 450, Biochemistry 450, Civil and Environmental Engineering 237, Developmental Biology 450, Structural Biology 450). Stanford faculty from the schools of Medicine, Humanities and Sciences, Engineering and invited industrial speakers review the interrelated elements of modern biotechnology. Topics: development of recombinant protein pharmaceuticals, bacterial fermentation and scale-up, mammalian cell culture and scale-up, transgenic animals, transgenic protein production in plants, isolation and purification of protein pharmaceuticals, formulation and delivery of pharmaceutical proteins, environmental biotechnology, metabolic engineering, industrial enzymes, diagnostic devices, transciptomics and proteomics, drug delivery systems. Prerequisite: graduate student or upper-division undergraduate in the sciences or engineering.
3 units, Spr (C. Robertson, J. Swartz)

NENS 459. Frontiers in Interdisciplinary Biosciences
(Cross-listed in multiple departments in the schools of Humanities and Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; students should enroll directly through their affiliated department, otherwise enroll in CHEMENG 459). An introduction to cutting-edge research involving interdisciplinary approaches to bioscience and biotechnology; for specialists and non-specialists. Organized and sponsored by the Stanford BioX Program. Three seminars each quarter address a broad set of scientific and technical themes related to interdisciplinary approaches to important issues in bioengineering, medicine, and the chemical, physical and biological sciences. Leading investigators from Stanford and throughout the world present the latest breakthroughs and endeavors that cut broadly across many core disciplines. Pre-seminars introduce basic concepts and provide background for non-experts. Registered students attend all pre-seminars in advance of the primary seminars, others welcome. Prerequisite: keen interest in all of science, engineering, and medicine with particular interest in life itself. Recommended: basic knowledge of mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics.
1 unit, Aut, Win, Spr (C. Robertson) M 3: 15-4:35 pm , Th 4: 15-5:30 pm

Frontiers in Translational Medicine
This course will introduce a variety of different pathways for combining science and medicine during your graduate and postdoctoral training and in your future careers. It will also provide an opportunity to learn more about the practical aspects of how to do translational medicine. A variety of guest lecturers, from within and outside of Stanford, from within academia and industry, will participate. The speakers are physician-scientists who have used their medical and scientific knowledge to advance the frontiers of translational medicine in different ways. The guest speakers will start by introducing themselves and telling you a little about how they trained and what they do, and then will open it up to you for questions. Speakers last year included Rob Malenka, Judy Swain, Bob Fisher, Jeff Bird, Ching Wang, Lubert Stryer, Jamie Topper, Ben Barres, and Gary Steinberg.
1 Unit, Spr (Barres)