Undergraduate Course: Synaptic Function and Plasticity in Health and Disease (BIME10012)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Synapses are essential for brain function by allowing communication between neurons. The efficacy of this communication is adjusted by a complex series of processes collectively termed synaptic plasticity. Plasticity is both critically involved in normal brain development and underlies learning and memory throughout life. Alterations in normal synaptic function and plasticity have been implicated in a wide variety of neurological conditions.
This course will start with introductory lectures focussing on pre- and postsynaptic function and the molecular mechanisms involved in plasticity at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. This will be followed by more detailed lectures including explanation of the latest experimental techniques being used to elucidate these mechanisms. These lectures will alternate with student presentations of recent research papers in the subject area. Finally we will use specific examples to explain how synaptic dysfunction can lead to neurological conditions, such as autism and schizophrenia, and study the experimental approaches and model systems currently being used to design clinical treatments.
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| Course description |
Contributors: Mike Cousin, Peter Kind, Giles Hardingham
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | N/A |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2014/15, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 24,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 6,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 8,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
151 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
100 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Exam 100% |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Synaptic Function and Plasticity in Health and Disease | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
Understand processes involved in neurotransmitter vesicle recycling, endo- and exocytosis;
Understand the molecular mechanisms of regulation of synaptic efficacy;
Knowledge of the role of inhibitory synapses;
Understand the experimental techniques used to study synapses;
Ability to interpret, evaluate and present experimental findings;
Understand how synaptic dysfunction leads to disease.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Synapse, brain, presynaptic, postsynaptic, disease, plasticity |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Michael Daw
Tel: (0131 6)50 3722
Email: Michael.Daw@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Lisa Ketchion
Tel: (0131 6)51 1629
Email: Lisa.Ketchion@ed.ac.uk |
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