Undergraduate Course: Neuroengineering: chemical and optical control of neural circuits (NEBM10027)
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 | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Optical and chemical genetic technologies are revolutionizing neuroscience research. These methods enable activation, inactivation or modulation of genetically defined neurons. Their application has recently produced breakthroughs in understanding fundamentals of neural circuit function, disease and therapeutic mechanisms.
The course will explore major examples of chemical and optogenetic technology along with their basic, clinical and commercial applications. Technologies discussed will include: millisecond control of neural activity with channelrhodopsin / halorhodopsin; millisecond control of neuromodulatory systems with OptoX-Rs; optical control of endogenous ion channels; chemical methods for control of excitability, e.g. hybrid GluRs; chemical methods for control of synaptic transmission, e.g. MIST. The strengths and limitations of different approaches will be compared. The application of these approaches to hypothesis driven research questions will be discussed. |
| Course description |
The course will be delivered through lectures and student-led discussion groups. Lectures will provide information required to understand each technology, and will present work from on-going projects in SBMS labs that use optical/chemical genetic techniques. Student led discussion will critique published studies using each of the introduced technologies.
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Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
1. Methods for manipulation of genetically defined neuronal populations.
2. How optical and chemical manipulations can be used to understand function of neural circuits.
3. How optical and chemical manipulations can be used to investigate and potentially treat clinical disorders.
Demonstrate an ability to:
1. Discuss and critically evaluate the advantages and limitations of different optical and chemical genetic methodologies.
2. Interpret and evaluate information in journal articles using optical and chemical genetic technologies.
3. Reconcile information from conventional experimental approaches with optical/chemical genetic studies.
4. Design a study that applies optical/chemical genetic technologies to a question of basic, clinical or commercial importance.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | NEURONeuroEng |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Thomas Theil
Tel: (0131 6)50 3721
Email: thomas.theil@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Caroline Morris
Tel: (0131 6)51 3255
Email: c.d.morris@ed.ac.uk |
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