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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Deanery of Biomedical Sciences : Neuroscience (Biomedical Sciences)

Undergraduate Course: General Neuroscience (NEBM10028)

Course Outline
SchoolDeanery of Biomedical Sciences CollegeCollege of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course covers aspects of cognitive systems, cellular, molecular and clinical neuroscience with the aim of educating students in the breadth of the subject, and providing training and development in evidence-based critical reading and writing skills, data acquisition and analysis. The course will include critical reading of original research literature and analysis of experimental results in neuroscience. We also highlight current controversies and challenges for the 21st Century in Neuroscience, partly by asking teachers and experienced researchers to speak about their subject area then leading students through specific aspects of the topic. The aim is to encourage critical thinking and evaluation of evidence, crucial to the development of a neuroscientist. These skills are also of practical value in dealing with material on the Elective Courses and students' independent research towards their Dissertation.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites Students MUST also take: Neuroscience Project Preview Dissertation (NEBM10035) AND Neuroscience Project (NEBM10005) AND Neuroscience Synoptic Examination (NEBM10019)
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  66
Course Start Blocks 1-3 (Sem 1-2)
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 25, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 18, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 3, Summative Assessment Hours 3, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 147 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 25% in course assessment (press release)
25% in course assessment (data analysis)
50% in course exam (paper critique)
Feedback Formative:
Paper Critique - students participate in Journal Clubs (approximately 5-6) during which they discuss journal papers and critique. They outline their critique using a proforma and given feedback on at least one critique.

Data Analysis - students are given a practice data analysis task and receive feedback on this.

Press Release - students discuss previous examples of press releases and receive feedback on this.

Summative:
press release/data analysis/paper critique - feedback is provided within 15 working days of the submission deadlines
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Address major advances in Neuroscience over the past 200 years and how they were made
  2. Address major challenges to society which might be better informed by advances in Neuroscience
  3. Appreciation of the interdisciplinary, multi-level scope of Neuroscience
  4. Training in critical skills for evaluation of evidence in neuroscience research publications, including rigorous appraisal and evaluation of quantitative data, summarising research findings, following and constructing arguments, proposing specific future research
  5. Insight into the scientific and ethical challenges that confront neuroscience research in the 21st century; debating contentious issues
Reading List
Either

Bear MF et al (2015) Neuroscience: exploring the brain. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 4th edn.

(this provides a general basic neuroscience background and is the recommended textbook for Neuroscience 3)

OR

John G. Nicholls, A. Robert Martin, Paul A. Fuchs, David A. Brown, Mathew E. Diamond, and David A. Weisblat et al (2012) From Neuron to Brain. 5th edn. (Sinauer). ISBN-13: 978-0878936090

(this textbook provides a greater breadth of neuroscience particularly for those requiring additional insight to physiology)
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNEU_4
Contacts
Course organiserDr Tara Spires-Jones
Tel: (0131 6)51 1895
Email: Tara.Spires-Jones@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Agnese Lapetrova
Tel: (0131 6)51 5997
Email: Agnese.Lapetrova@ed.ac.uk
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