Bi/CNS 163. Functions and Mechanisms of Sleep
Winter 2000
Schedule (tentative)
Except otherwise noted, classes will be held in Beckman Institute, Room 23, 7-9 pm.
Jan. 04 Introduction (Gabriel Kreiman)
Overview of the class.
What is sleep? Sleep stages. Experimental methods in sleep research. Why do we need to sleep? Possible functions of sleep. Sleep and consciousness.
Jan. 09 Introduction to neurobiology (Alex Backer, 8pm, BI23)
For those of you who are unfamiliar with neurobiology, we will have a one day introduction to neuroscience that will help you better understand the papers and discussions in class. Topics will include what a neuron is, how neurons communicate, basic anatomy of the human brain, research methods in neuroscience (lesions, electrophysiology, fMRI, EEG, psychophysics).
Jan. 11 Sleep and memory (Gabriel Kreiman)
Relationship between sleep and memory. Animal experiments and human psychophysics experiments. Crick-Mitshison hypothesis. Selective forgetting hypothesis.
Jan. 18 Sleep deprivation (Gabriel Kreiman)
What happens when animals or humans are sleep deprived?
Presentation and discussion of research proposals by students.
Research proposals are due.
Jan. 25 Lucid dreaming (Steve Potter).
What is lucid dreaming ? Discussion of LaBerge experiments.
Feb. 01 Thermoregulation, hibernation and sleep (Alex Backer)
Feb. 08 Evolution of sleep (Alex Backer)
Comparison of sleep across species. Evolution of non-REM and REM sleep. Dolphins and birds unihemispheric sleep. Circadian rhythms. Insect and reptile sleep.
Feb. 15 REM sleep and Narcolepsy (Alex Backer)
Feb. 22 Brain and sleep (to be confirmed)
What happens in the brain while we sleep? Studies from functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission topography in humans, electrophysiology and lesions in animals.
Feb. 29 Sleep and brain injury (Joe Bogen)
Discussion of different pathologies and disorders associated with sleep.
March 07
Presentations by students (Theory papers) on the function(s) of sleep.
Finals handed out.
March 14.
Finals due.
This page is maintained for Bi/CNS 163 by GK, gabriel@klab.caltech.edu