Using a classic paper by Gottschalk and Mylle to teach the countercurrent model of urinary concentration.

Most undergraduates lack the scientific background to read and appreciate much of the primary literature in physiology. Even when the underlying concepts are elegantly simple, the inherent complexity of contemporary papers often makes the work inaccessible to them. However, with a little help, they can be guided to an understanding of the creative thought processes that underlie the research and to appreciate its significance.

Lymnaea stagnalis and the development of neuroelectronic technologies.

The recent development of techniques for stimulating and recording from individual neurons grown on semiconductor chips has ushered in a new era in the field of neuroelectronics. Using this approach to construct complex neural circuits on silicon from individual neurons will require improvements at the neuron/semiconductor interface and advances in controlling synaptogenesis. Although devices incorporating vertebrate neurons may be an ultimate goal, initial investigations using neurons from the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis have distinct advantages.

Neuromodulation in invertebrate sensory systems: from biophysics to behavior.

Neuromodulation may enhance the ability of sensory circuits to respond appropriately to widely variable environmental stimuli. The functional significance of neuromodulation will emerge from understanding the effects of modulators not just on single cells and synapses, but also on networks and the behavior of intact animals. With their relatively simple circuitry and large identifiable cells, invertebrate nervous systems offer insights into the complex roles of neuromodulators in modifying networks to meet the changing needs of the animal.