Undergraduate Course: Principles of Neuroscience 3 (IBMS09003)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will focus on developing comprehensive knowledge of neuroscience, including its foundations, research questions and techniques at different levels, ranging from molecular and cellular to systems, cognitive, behavioural and computational. Students will also acquire basic knowledge of neurological disorders. |
| Course description |
This elective course will help develop a comprehensive understanding of neuroscience foundations, research questions and techniques across the range of disciplines including molecular, cellular, systems, cognitive, behavioural and computational neuroscience.
Lectures will discuss neurons and their circuits, glia, neurotransmitters, structural and synaptic plasticity, sensory and motor systems, chemical control of the brain and behaviour, learning, memory, decision making, attention, emotion, motivation, sleep and language. They will also review a variety of modern neuroscience techniques used to study each system including biochemical, genetic, electrophysiological, imaging, behavioural and computational.
Through exercises and practical experience students will learn how to tackle the complexity of data and integration of techniques at different levels that is commonplace in modern neuroscience research. They will also gain an understanding of brain function through examples of dysfunction in neurological disorders.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2021/22, 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 26,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 13,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 39,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
118 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
40 %,
Coursework
60 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Exam: 40% total course mark«br /»
ICA: 60% total course mark: practical report (35%) and paper presentation (25%) |
| Feedback |
The weekly tutorial will provide regular opportunity for oral feedback on students' understanding of key topics presented in lectures.
The practical / journal club session will allow for feedback in students critical analysis, problem solving, and presentation skills.
The practical report will include an opportunity to get formal feedback on structure, content and style.
Answers to midterm questions and common misconceptions will also be discussed with students after the midterm, which will help them prepare for the final exam more effectively. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe how the nervous system gives rise to a variety of functions
- Apply neuroscience knowledge to explain dysfunction in neurological disorders
- Identify and describe appropriate research methods to address specific questions in neuroscience
- Present and discuss with peers and staff modern neuroscience studies that include several inter-connected techniques at different levels
- Design and perform neuroscience experiments, analyze collected data and interpret the results
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The course aim is to develop a set of four clusters of skills and abilities (see headings below) that will strengthen students' attitude towards lifelong learning and personal development, as well as future employability. The graduate attributes we hope to develop within the 3rd year Principles of Neuroscience elective course are indicated below.
The course aims to increase students' understanding of the general subject area and also obtain specific skills as outlined in the Course Description. The knowledge base of the course and the development of analytical skills will be of benefit to students in completing their degree and beyond. The course will develop problem-solving capabilities through the practical report and paper presentation.
To meet the aims and challenges of the course, we will encourage students to work independently and also to discuss and debate with other students to strengthen their views as they develop. By reading textbooks and research papers students will expand their knowledge of the topics covered in the lectures, and this will allow them to broaden personal scientific interests outside of the specific subjects in the course. In writing the practical report and preparing paper presentation students will explore a topic in detail, evaluate what they have learnt and read in a critical way and provide their own approach to investigating and solving a biological problem.
Through open discussions and collaborations during tutorials and journal clubs students will be able to communicate their views and ideas in English and to learn from peers. Preparing for the presentation and tutorials will help students develop effective communication skills and improve their professional, scientific English language. Students will be also encouraged to ask questions during lectures and tutorials to expand their knowledge and clear up any misinterpretations and misunderstandings they might have.
Students will continue learning time management skills to develop ways to organise their work and meet deadlines. Writing a well-reasoned practical report will help students to organize their thoughts concisely and effectively. Group work during tutorials and practicals is also an important transferable skill. By interacting with peers, students will become more aware of their own skills and talents (and possible limitations) and appreciate those of others. |
| Keywords | neurobiology,brain,cognition,neurons,plasticity,neuroimaging,computational modelling,psychiatry |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Gediminas Luksys
Tel: (0131 6)50 3525
Email: Gedi.Luksys@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Natasha Goldie
Tel:
Email: natasha.goldie@ed.ac.uk |
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