SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE N623 - Week 2
The RetinaNobel of the Week, September 8.
1967 - Ragnar Granit, Haldan K. Hartline, and George Wald, "for their discoveries concerning the primary physiological and chemical visual processes in the eye" (focus only on Hartline's lecture). Not Quite Nobel of the Week
Stephen W. Kuffler (1953) Discharge patterns and functional organization of mammalian retina. J. Neurophys. 16: 37-68. Kuffler's earlier work with Nobel Laureates, Sir John Eccles and Bernard Katz, constituted fundamental studies of synaptic transmission. Kuffler then founded and headed the first department of Neurobiology in the world (Harvard 1966), and was scientific mentor/father to future Nobel Prize winners David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel (Nobel 1981). Unfortunately, Kuffler died one year prior to the awarding of this Nobel Prize. Had he been alive in 1981, many speculate that he would have shared in this prize along with his former postdocs, Hubel and Wiesel (Nobel Prizes are not given posthumously).
A mini-bio of Stephen W. Kuffler. And another mini-bio...
Introductory Readings for discussion on September 8.
Kandel, Schwartz, Jessell, 4th ed. Chapter 26.
Original Literature Readings for discussion on September 13.
Hecht, S, Shlaer, S, and Pirenne, MH. (1942) Energy, quanta, and vision. J. Gen. Physiol. 25:819-840.
Original Literature Readings for discussion on September 15.
Dowling, JE and Werblin, FS.(1969) Organization of the retina of the mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus. I. Synaptic Structure. J. Neurophysiol. 32:315-338. Werblin, FS and Dowling, JE. (1969) Organization of the retina of the mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus. II. Intracellular recording. J. Neurophysiol. 32:339-355.
Tips for effective paper presentations