Bidirectional communication between the brain and immune system, in disease and during normal function/homeostasis. Historical foundations of the field in disorders such as multiple sclerosis and HIV; the anatomy of CNS-immune connections; blood-brain-barrier function and dysfunction; leukocyte trafficking, surveillance, and infiltration of the CNS; cellular players including peripheral vs. CNS-resident immune cells and antigen presentation; neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disease; recent literature highlighting the critical role of immune molecules in neural development and lifelong plasticity. Instructor consent required for undergraduates.
Department of Psychology & Neuroscience