Departmen
D
nt of Electtrical and Computerr Engineerring
Facuulty of Enggineering and Archiitecture
Universitty of Beiruut
A
American
EECE
E 605: Neu
uromuscuular Engineeering
ption:
Cataalog descrip
Introoduction on
n the nervouus system, electrophysio
e
ology, and chemical kiinetics. The cell
mem
mbrane in th
he steady staate: resting membrane
m
vooltage and membrane
m
eqquivalent cirrcuit.
Genneration and propagationn of the actioon potential:: Hodgkin-H
Huxley modeel, propertiess and
proppagation of the action potential. Synapses: neuromuscuular junctionn, fast chem
mical
synaapses, secon
nd-messengerr systems, sy
ynaptic plassticity, and electrical
e
synnapses. Neurrons:
neurronal currentts, firing pattterns, and siggnaling in deendrites. Muuscle: contracction, mechaanics,
and receptors. Control
C
of moovement: mechanics, spinnal reflexes, hierarchical organizationn and
conttrol, locomottion, equilibrrium-point hyypothesis.
Credit hours: 3 credits
quired or eleective:
Req
Elecctive, open too ECE, CCE, and studentts from outsiide the ECE Dept.
D
Prerrequisites:
By ccourse: (1) BIOL
B
210 (Huuman Biologgy) or BIOL 202 (Generaal Biology II), or PHYL 246
2
(Hum
man Physiollogy), (2) EE
ECE 210 (Eleectric Circuitts) or PHYS 228 (Electroonics) and PH
HYS
228L
L (Electroniccs Laboratorry), (3) MAT
TH 202.
By ttopic: Humann biology, baasic electric circuits,
c
calcculus and diff
fferential equuations.
Textbook(s) and
d/or requireed materialss
 Extensiv
ve class notes are provideed. General book
b
references include:
 Johnstonn D., Wu, S.M
M.S., Found
dations of Ceellular Neuroophysiology, The MIT Preess,
Cambrid
dge, Ma, 19995.
 Kandel, E.R., Schwaartz, J.H., Jesssel, T.M., Principles
P
of Neural
N
Sciennce, fifth ed.,,
Y
2012.
McGaw-Hill, New York,
 Nieuwennhuys, R., V
Voogd, J., vann Huijzen, C.., The Humann Central Neervous System
m,
fourth edd., Springer, Berlin, 20077.
 Shepherrd, G.M., Thee Synaptic Organization
O
of the Brain,, fifth ed., Oxxford Univerrsity
Press, 20004.
urse Objectivves
Cou
1. Explain the ellectrical propperties of the cell membraane at rest
o the actionn potential annd its
2. Prresent the Hoodgkin-Huxlley model annd discuss thee properties of
m
modes of proppagation
3. Elucidate synaaptic action at
a the neurom
muscular junnction, fast chhemical synaapses, and
ms underlyingg second-meessenger systtems and
electrical synaapses and thee mechanism
syynaptic plastticity
4. Prrovide an ovverview of hoow spikes aree triggered inn neurons, th
he various meechanisms thhat
m
modulate neuuronal firing, and the resuulting firing patterns
p
5. Examine the structure
s
of various
v
typess of muscle, the
t mechanissms underlyiing muscularr
m
p
properties,
annd the propeerties of musccle receptorss
contraction, thhe resulting mechanical
C
how movement
m
is controlled, and
a the roles of various motor
m
hierarcchical structuures,
6. Clarify
Course Topics
1. Introduction: living cells, neurons and glia, organization of the nervous system,
diffusion fluxes and potentials, ionic equilibriums, and chemical kinetics
2. The cell membrane in the steady state: structure, electrical properties, active pump,
resting voltage, equivalent circuit, rectification, reactance, and semiconductor analogy
3. Generation and propagation of the action potential: the Hodgkin-Huxley model,
properties of action potential, propagation along unmyelinated and myelinated axons
4. Synapses: the neuromuscular junction, fast chemical synapses, second-messenger
systems, synaptic plasticity, electrical synapses
5. Neurons: spike triggering, neuronal currents, firing patterns and their modulation,
dendritic signaling
6. Muscle: structure, contraction, mechanics, receptors, cardiac and smooth muscle
7. Control of movement: mechanical considerations, spinal reflexes, hierarchical
organization and control, middle hierarchical level, lower hierarchical level,
locomotion, equilibrium-point hypothesis
Course Learning Outcomes
1. The origin of the resting membrane voltage, the derivation of the membrane equivalent
circuit, and how membrane rectification and reactance arise
2. The basic features of the Hodgkin-Huxley model, the properties of the action potential
and how it is propagated along unmyelinated and myelinated axons
3. The operation of the neuromuscular junction, fast chemical synapses, second-messenger
systems, and electrical synapses, as well as the mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity
4 How spikes are generated in neurons and how spike triggering is modulated to provide
different firing patterns
5 How force is generated by muscle, the mechanical properties of muscle, and the
characteristics of muscle receptors
6 Mechanical aspects of movement, the nature of spinal reflexes, and the roles of the
various motor hierarchies in the brain and the spinal cord
Class/Laboratory schedule
Two 75-minute lectures per week
Resources of the course
Lecture notes, references, Moodle, and Web
Computer Usage
Moodle, Web searches
Evaluation methods
Term paper, topic of choice from approved list
Midterm (short answer)
Final Exam (short answer)
20%
30%
50%
Professional component
Engineering topics: 35%
Biological Topics: 40%
General education: 0%
Mathematics and basic sciences: 25%
Person(s) who prepared this description and date of preparation
Nassir Sabah, March 2013