BIOL 476Systems Neuroscience: From Neurons to Behaviour
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Biology
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Systems neuroscience attempts to explain complex functions of the nervous system in terms of underlying neural circuits. The course focuses on how neural circuits analyze sensory information, form perceptions, make decisions, and execute movements, as well as contribute to high-level mental functions such as language, memory, and self-awareness.
Prerequisites
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Reviewed on UW Flow
100% liked it50% easy75% useful
From 2 ratings and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
An amazing course that I would recommend to literally anyone interested in grad school in the sciences/biology. It's a lot of work in total, but if you manage your time well and make sure to stay on top of deadlines it's not hard to do well, especially given a large portion of your grade is peer-review based.
Jan 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
17 posts and comments in 10 threads mention BIOL 476, June 2019 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2024
Biol 476 without 376? Any info on 476 really would be great... 2 points, 4 comments
u/IllustratorHungry880: “I tried to take biol 376 but I am not great with the computer program and dropped it. I really do want to take 476, and I know its generally one large project. Which I am usually good at. Is it doable without 376? What are the topics on? …”
u/hoemaster123: “Neither BIOL 476 or 376 are being offered this year (at least according to quest). However my coworker took 476 (a couple years ago however) without taking 376. …”
u/ononomaetopoeia: “I got an email that BIOL 476 is cancelled for fall 2024. It’s more seminar-like where you conduct your own studies, do an oral presentation, mark each other, submit a final report etc with some tests sprinkled in. PM me for the syllabus from last fall. …”
u/mxxxly: “As a bio major, BIOL476 was VERY intimidating for me. I signed up and got into the course that is co-taught by SYDE professor and I am sitting in online team calls (Winter 2022 term) with senior engineering students. …”
BIOL 476 4 points, 6 comments
u/NELLE_5: “Has anybody taken BIOL 476? What were your thoughts? Thinking of taking it for Fall 2020, I have taken BIOL 273 and 373 but not BIOL 376... Is the course difficult? If you have an old version of the syllabus would you send it to me?”
u/rocketleagueGC: “BioL 476 is easy if you go to class everyday. I ended up with an 84”
u/Ojaura_: “Hey I saw your comment on the uwaterloo thread from 2 years ago. I was wondering what your experience was like taking biol 476?”
u/19ydx: “hey im planning on taking biol 476 soon, did you end up taking it, and how was it?”
Spring 2021
Has anyone taken BIOL 467, BIOL 456, BIOL 434? 1 point, 2 comments
“I'm going into my 4th term of my BIOL undergrad and was wondering if anyone has taken these courses/would be able to give me their opinions on these courses in terms of how hard & interesting they …”
u/1happyfeet: “I took BIOL 476 in Fall 2020 (so fully online). You basically get a research topic at the start of the semester and then you have to write a review paper + make a presentation on the topic. …”
Winter 2021
BIOL 476 vs KIN 301/PSYCH 261? 1 point, 0 comments
Fall 2020
Blindsided by grades for a course where no marks were released until 20 minutes ago 64 points, 11 comments
u/largewhiteegg: “I took BIOL476 this term (systems neuroscience w/ Spafford) and no marks were ever released for us, for anything in the course, until literally just now, and the grade happens to be the lowest of my entire undergrad. …”
BIOL 476 0 points, 1 comment
u/Calgarydan98: “Anybody else having trouble understanding how this class works, especially getting marked for questions when the presentations are randomized”
Spring 2020
BIOL 376 or BIOL 472 or BIOL 433 WHICH IS THE EASIEST COURSE? 2 points, 3 comments
“Hello everyone! Could anyone tell me which course they found the easiest of out these three? Looking for an easy and low-effort third year science elective. Thank you!”
[deleted]: [deleted]
u/sun-day: “Would you know how it compares to biol 476? I got permission to override biol 376/476 so that I can take biol 487 but have never taken any biol course before”
Anyone taking/has taken BIOL 433 or BIOL 476? 0 points, 3 comments
[deleted]: “I'm trying to decide between these two and I'm not sure what to take. Plants bore me but biotechnology doesn't. Neuroscience interests me but I'm already taking BIOL 376.”
BIOL 476 1 point, 3 comments
Spring 2019
BIOL 476 for CS students 4 points, 1 comment
u/zack_cody: “How is BIOL 476 overall? I am a Computer Science student with no background in Biology, but just high curiosity about nervous system. Considering that I could get a course override, would you recommend this course?”
u/youngezzy: “It’s really hard without taking the two physiology courses 273 and 373 since it expands a lot on the nervous system units edit: not sure if your gonna get a override into a 25 spot level 400 BIOL …”
u/jjk9527: “if you have the syllabus for biol 476, do you mind sending it to me??”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
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