Ion Channels in Synaptic and Neural Circuit Physiology Course (2024-2028) - Ion channels are the fundamental building blocks determining cellular activity and in particular neuronal excitability. The most elementary processes in the nervous system, such as action potential firing and synaptic transmission, depend on their function. Coordinated activation of distinct types of ion channels enables information transfer through complex circuits and neural networks. Addressing the need for intensive research training in this field, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory will offer the annual three-week course on Ion Channels in Synaptic & Neural Circuit Physiology, as part of its postgraduate summer training program in neurobiology (2024-2028). The primary goal of this course is to demonstrate, through lectures and laboratory work, the different properties of ion channels that enable neurons to perform unique physiological functions in a variety of neural systems. The course focuses on: voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels at central and peripheral synapses; synaptic integration and plasticity; neural circuit function in vitro and in vivo; and optogenetic strategies for circuit manipulation. The laboratory component of the course introduces students to electrophysiological approaches for the study of ion channels in their native environments. The course provides trainees with hands-on experience in using patch-clamp electrophysiology to examine single channel activity in cultured cells, ion channel biophysics in acutely dissociated neurons, action potential firing and synaptic integration, plasticity and circuit dynamics in acute brain slices and in vivo. Different types of recordings will be used (e.g. cell-attached, whole-cell dendritic and somatic patch, voltage- and current-clamp modes) and the advantages and limitations of each method will be discussed in relation to specific scientific questions. The course will also provide practical experience in cellular and circuit manipulation techniques (i.e. pharmacological, electrophysiological and optogenetic) both in vitro and in vivo. The lead instructors are chosen on the basis of their training, contributions to and knowledge of the field. In turn, they invite lecturers who have made significant contributions in their fields to give up-to-the-minute reports on the underlying technology and their current research. The trainees are chosen by the course faculty from larger pools of applicants and range from graduate students to senior investigators. This intensive research training program enrolls a broad cadre of researchers who can immediately transfer techniques and concepts learned during the course to their own research projects and interests. The faculty are encouraged to present relevant methodological approaches in the broader context of brain function and mental health research. Their presence is not limited to the classroom: each speaker spends a significant amount of time in the laboratory to provide a unique learning opportunity for the attendees of the course. Methods and concepts taught in the course are disseminated to the wider research community through the publication of laboratory manuals and online resources.
