Course outline page (click here)
Class time: TTh 1:35-2:55pm
Class location: Ford ES&T L1125
Final Exam: None. We will use the time for project presentations, if necessary.
Office Hours: Thursday 9-11, or by appointment
Course prerequisite: The following knowledge is necessary: basic differential equations, comfort with the notions of state space and stability, undergraduate-levcl analog circuit knowledge (just passives and op-amps). I assume that you do not know the necessary biology.
Course Objective: This course discusses the electrical and chemical basis of electrically excitable cells, such as neurons and cardiac myocytes. The first half of the course is basic theory, while the remainder of the course discussed specific physiological systems and biological and engineering applications. While cardiac and muscle systems will be covered, there is a definite neuroscience bias to this course. Simultaneous with the course material, I also use this course to teach first-year engineering graduate students about "doing science" and reading the scientific literature, a necessary skill for multidiscplinary research, especially in bioengineering.
Text: Foundations of Cellular Neurophysiology, by Johnston and Wu (MIT Press). This text does not cover everything we will do in the class, but what it does contain it covers very well, and in a quantitative manner . Other useful texts that I will draw from include Bioelectromagnetism, by Plonsey and Malivuo and Bioimpedance and Bioelectricity Basics, by Grimnes and Martinsen. There are many other useful references that I will mention in class as necessary. Any supplementary material will be handed out in class or available for download from the outline (see link at top).
The course outline page is important for keeping up with this course (see link above)! It is updated after each lecture to reflect what was actually covered, and the remaining outline is updated accordingly. All supplemental reading is made available on this page, and all assignments are distributed on this page.
Email Policy: Updates on important class-related information will often be sent via email. You are expected to check your email at least once per day. I typically will send email about class material in the late afternoon.
Attendance: You are responsible for all material covered in class. Part of your grade is based on class participation. A missed exam may not be made up except under extenuating circumstances - I may refer you to the Dean of Students office (404-894-6367) for verification before a makeup test will be given. The makeup test may be oral.
Academic Honesty: Play fair, don't throw sand, don't dump out someone else's sand bucket, and don't steal anybody elses sand.
Studying together in groups is strongly encouraged, but all work on class assignments must be the result of your individual effort. "Studying together" means learning the course material. "Studying together" does not mean working together on class assignments that are to be turned in for a grade. Unless specifically identified as group work; quizzes, tests, take–home-tests, homework, projects, etc. are to be completed alone. All work must be done in accordance with the instructions on the assignment. No calculators, computers, PDAs, or any other electronic or computational device are allowed on any exam in this course, unless otherwise noted. Typically, exams are open books/notes. All course conduct is governed by the Georgia Tech Honor Code as described in the 2003-2005 General Catalog. Any suspected case of academic dishonesty will be referred to the Office of Student Integrity for further investigation.
Grades: There is assigned homework for the first several weeks of the course (see course outline).
There will also be in class 30-45 minute quizzes. I will give you notice of a quiz in the previous class.
There will be at least two modeling/simulation projects. More details as necessary. You will have at least two weeks to complete these projects.
There is no exam, but there is a final project paper. Depending on class size and work load during the semester, there may be in-class presentations. You will have 1 month's notice of any such assignment.
Grade Calculation: Homework is graded on a scale of 0-4. Quizzes are graded on a scale of 0-8. Modeling projects are graded on a scale of 0-16. These numbers map proportionately to an ABC system. So a 4 is a solid A, a 3 is a solid B, etc. In the past, the cutoff for an A has been a 3.4.
Disclaimer: The number and types of assignments listed here are anticipated, and reality may differ as we proceed during the semester.