Using Cultured Mammalian Neurons to Study Cellular Processes and Neurodegeneration: A Suite of Undergraduate Lab Exercises.

Cell culture is a powerful tool for exploring cellular function. Culturing primary neurons has revealed how neurons communicate in learning and memory (Kandel, 2006) and provided insights into the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease (Alberio et al., 2012; Trinchese, et al.