Short Courses in Neuroscience
Summer 2009 Schedule

Med Associates Short Courses in Neuroscience are an important part of our summer schedule at our Science
Center R&D facility in St. Albans, Vermont. These workshops are great for the beginning user of our equipment,
or for a refresher. Respected researchers in various fields of research teach the courses. Please see the dates and course descriptions below. Be sure to check our website for future updates on the courses, where you can fill out the registration form as well as scholarship forms for people at educational institutions. We expect to post registration materials in early May. Please contact us early, as the classes are kept small for maximum one-on-one attention. Click here for more information, to apply for a scholarship, or to register.

Learning, Memory and Classical Fear Conditioning June 24–26, 2009 This three-day intensive workshop will cover theoretical and technical aspects related to the study of conditioned fear using the freeze response as a dependent measure. In addition, spatial learning and memory will be covered using the water maze. Other modules will focus on place conditioning, and assays for locomotor activity. Laboratory exercises will be performed using an automated video motion analysis system, and this type of system will be compared/contrasted to freeze scores obtained by human observation. Special attention will be paid to activity and shock reactivity, training, testing, extinction, and context discrimination. Water maze studies will be conducted using automated video tracking systems. Laboratory exercises for locomotor assays and place conditioning will be conducted using standard systems offered by Med Associates Inc. The course will be taught by Dr. Stephan Anagnostaras from UCSD, a recognized authority in murine fear conditioning.

Running Basic MED-PC® Programs: An Introduction to MEDLAB 8 July 23, 2009 This course is a free workshop geared to introduce the novice MED-PC® user, or potential user, to running basic behavioral test protocols using our powerful and flexible MED-PC® Research Control and Data Acquisition software. Software and equipment installation will be covered. Med Associates’ staff will teach this course.

An Introduction to Behavioral Research Protocol Programming: Getting Started with MED-PC® July 24, 2009 Learn the basics of writing MedState Notation™ programs to control your behavioral experiments. Instruction will be provided by following the exercises in the MED-PC® Programmer’s Guide. If you already have worked on your own MedState Notation™ programs, be prepared to bring examples of them, or bring the details of your behavioral experiments. This will allow you to practice using your own protocols and procedures. Med Associates’ staff will teach this course.