Behavioral Neuroscience
Summers
How to Draw Neurons
How to Draw Connections
Paper Size
Integration of C-Start Circuitry and Behavior
Glu
DA
ACh
Example Drawing
Figures of C-Start Behavior
C-Start Circuitry
end Acronyms/Abbreviations
Behavioral Neuroscience Syllabus
I. The BASICS / Gestalt
organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts
A. Every Drawing will have 3 Main Elements:
1. Sensory/Afferent neurons
2. Interneurons/Gating neurons
3. Motor/Efferent neurons
4. Always include at least one tripartite synapse
a. includes pre- and post-synaptic neurons and 2 astrocytes
B. Each Neuron Drawn should include:
1. Each neuron should be directional
a. it should be obvious from the neuron parts
i. the direction of the signal
1) from round cell body to triangular terminal
2. a Soma/Cell Body - round or pyramid shaped
a. dendrites are optional
3. a Wide Axon
a. not a single line
b. draw the 2 axonal lines with a black pencil
i. fill in the center with color
4. a Triangular shaped Bouton
a. round the edges of the triangle
5. Some indication of the Neurotransmitter/Modulator released from this neuron
a. In vesicles in the bouton
b. or in the synapse
c. color coding is nice
C. Each Neuron should Communicate Directly with Another Neuron
1. Show Synapses
a. Bouton to Cell Body/Dendrite
b. show secretion of the neurotrasmitter
i. that means show a vesicle fille with transmitter
ii. bind to and open into the synapse
iii. show transmitter in the synapse
2. Draw the Appropriate Receptor in the cell body membrane of the following neuron
a. must match the secreted transmitter/modulator
b. colocalized transmitters will require 2 or more receptor types
3. Motor Neurons communicate directly with muscle
D. 81/2 by 11 inch paper only
1. don't use larger paper
a. don't add small piece of paper to the edges
2. part of the assignment is to fit the important elements into a single visual space
E. Get the Gestalt
organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts
1. the Drawing is supposed to show an organized story
2. this perception is more for you than for me
a. I want you to understand the neurocircuit as a whole
II. Anatomy is your friend - use it
A. Include the body of the animal in the drawing
1. orient your drawing to the head-tail
2. body drawing should not be dimensionally perfect
a. it is just for orientation
i. it should fill the space of the paper
3. FILLING the SPACE
a. If you have big blank spaces in your drawing
i. that is WRONG
b. FILL that space with the important elements of the drawing & labeling
i. cell bodies of neurons that are escpecially active
ii. receptors - ionotropic, 7tm, homodimers, steroid receptors
1) postsynaptic density proteins
2) presynaptic release mechanisms
iii. 2nd messenger sytstems
iv. elements of molecular plasticity that allow for learning etc.
1) DNA
a) genes
b) promoters and enhancers
c) RE = response elements for TFs or hormones
2) TF = transcription factors
3) cytoskeletal elements
4) receptor and subunit trafficking
4. Sensory neurons require sesory organs
a. eyes, ears, pain receptors...
5. Use your space wisely - don't use most of the space keeping the dimensions proper
III. Extras - Things you might not think of
A. Make multiple drafts
1. Don't try to use one drawing from beginning to end
a. don't erase and redraw on the same drawing
2. First draft - just draw the sensory receptor and neuron
3. 2nd draft - just sensory and main regulatory neuron
4. 3rd draft - start with the simplest circuit
5. 4th draft - add supporting regulatory neurons
6. Final version - redraw everything together for the final version
B. Use Color wisely
1. Best to draw in black pencil
2. then fill with color
a. especially with yellow