Students´ lab

Organisation
Prepared experiments
Own experiments

Foundation of Neurobiology

The Student lab in the Department of Molecular Physiology is a modern teaching lab, especially equipped for the teaching of Neurobiology. In this lab students are able to either independently or with guidance become familiar with the basic concepts of Neurosciences. For this purpose we provide a multitude of prepared experiments. In addition, the student lab is well set up for independent experiments in the areas Cell biology / Neurophysiology / Neuronal Networks.

Organisation

The student lab is situated in room 407 on the 4th floor in the Institute of Zoology (Im Neuen- heimer Feld 230). More details about group and individual pracs in the student lab are available through News from the Department of Molecular Physiology. If students want to use the lab independently please contact Professor Frings at the Institute of Zoology in room 406. (Consultation Hours: Tue - Fri, 12 - 1 pm.)

Prepared Experiments

For students who are interested in Neuroscience we have prepared a series of experiments. After a short orientation students can independently complete and further develop the following experiments:

Basics of Bioelectricity: the Nernst Potential
Neuromuscular impulse transmission
Measurement of excitation transmission speed
Control of the smooth musculature through the autonomic nervous system
ECG: heart activity and the autonomic nervous system
Sensory Physiology: Vision, hearing, smelling
Visual motor function coordination

With the Neurosimulator system students can build and analyse neuronal networks. Students can work independently with the help of a script and attend to the following experiments:

Membrane capacitance and low pass filtering in Neurons
Signal processing at excitatory synapses
Signal processing at inhibitory synapses
Signal processing at Hebbian synapses
Feedback as a mechanism of self control
Stimulation of networks in the visual system
Mechanisms of learning

The Neurosimulator system can also be used to explore the functionality of the brain. The following pre-formatted tasks can be of help:

Pacemaker in motor active systems
the body's own pain suppression
Reflexes
Movement control through the basal ganglia
Pacemaker systems during wake-sleep periods

Irrespective of these neurobiological experiments students may also use the student lab for their own scientific interests. Therefore the equipment in the student lab is available to students all year round.

Own Experiments

Electrophysiological recording from the human body
		Intra- and extracellular recording from nerve cells
Simulation of neuronal networks
		Basics of lab automation