Pitzer College is creating a series of five three-week long experimental investigations in the Human Physiology course, and is supporting undergraduate research projects in Psychobiology. The physiology lab consists of open-ended experimental investigations on the nervous system, including membrane potentials, synaptic transmission, neural integration in motor control, processing of visual information, and a human electroencephalogram. Students make their own electrodes with a microelectrode puller, and use computer interfaced instruments to record and analyze data. These challenging exercises encourage exploration and help students gain a greater appreciation for physiology as an experimental scinece. They will also be better prepared for senior thesis research work, which is required at the college. The equipment used previously in the physiology course will now be used in the introductory biology laboratory, thus benefitting the beginning students with experimental exercises. The college will contribute an amount equal to the award.
