Postgraduate Course: Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology and its Relevance to Pain Management (PAMA11055)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh Medical School |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This is a 5-week, 10 credit, distance learning course on Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology and its relevance to Pain Management. You are expected to spend 20 hours per week on this course. You will be given a brief overview of the course and will be provided with relevant materials and resources. Specific tasks and online exercises relating to each weeks topic will be set. Summative assessment will be required for the course.
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| Course description |
The biopsychosocial model of pain has come to dominate our teaching of pain medicine. This has been possible due to the integration of pain concepts and theories alongside a clearer understanding and acknowledgment of neuroanatomy and physiology. A firm knowledge of neuroanatomy and physiology is necessary for us to continue with the development and advancement of pain management.
This course will aim for the student to assimilate advanced knowledge of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology and its relevance to pain management. An introductory week will be followed by more in-depth consideration of peripheral, spinal, supraspinal, genetic factors and how models blend these influences into an understanding of the pain experience.
Assessed discussion boards will facilitate group interaction, academic appraisal and shared learning and reflection. A written summative assignment will ask the student to assimilate their knowledge and critically appraise the literature.
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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 | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Appreciate the biological and mechanistic contributors to pain within the biopsychosocial model
- Outline the fundamental neuroscience of pain, including ascending and descending pain pathways within the peripheral, axillary and central nervous systems
- Interpret current research on the neurophysiological processes involved in pain signal transmission and processing.
- Identify the influence of genetics on nociception mechanisms and heritable and other genetic-induced pain conditions
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Reading List
A list of Learning Resources will be provided to ensure access to appropriate and relevant resources to enable full participation in this course.
Details about the Learning Resource Lists can be found at https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/research-teaching-staff/resource-lists/information-for-students .
Below is a selection of some of the resources that you will be expected to engage with during the course. This is an indicative list and may be amended in light of more recent and relevant resources becoming available.
ARTICLE: Beyond nociception: the imprecision hypothesis chronic pain. Moseley, G.L ; Vlaeyen, J.W.SPain (Amsterdam) 156 (1) 2015-01-0135 - 38
ARTICLE: Velasco, E., Flores-Cortés, M., Guerra-Armas, J., Flix-Díez, L., Gurdiel-Álvarez, F., Donado-Bermejo, A., van den Broeke, E.N., Pérez-Cervera, L. & Delicado-Miralles, M. (2024) Is chronic pain caused by central sensitization A review and critical point of view. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. 167, 105886-. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105886.
ARTICLE: Sandkuhler, J. (2009) Models and Mechanisms of Hyperalgesia and Allodynia. Physiological reviews. 89 (2), 707758. doi:10.1152/physrev.00025.2008.
ARTICLE:Beyond nociception: the imprecision hypothesis chronic pain. Moseley, G.L ; Vlaeyen, J.W.SPain (Amsterdam) 156 (1) 2015-01-0135 - 38
ARTICLE:Studying human nociceptors: From fundamentals to clinic. Middleton, Steven J ; Barry, Allison M ; Comini, Maddalena ; Li, Yan ; Ray, Pradipta R ; Shiers, Stephanie ; Themistocleous, Andreas C ; Uhelski, Megan L ; Yang, Xun ; Dougherty, Patrick M ; Price, Theodore J ; Bennett, David L. Brain (London, England : 1878)144(5)2021-05-011312 - 1335
ARTICLE Structural plasticity and reorganisation in chronic pain. Rohini Kuner ; Herta Flor. Nature Reviews Neuroscience18(1)2016-12-1520 |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
During this course students will have to develop the ability to work independently as well as interact with fellow students. Students will develop skills in reflective practice as they draw on their own knowledge and experience, and that of other students, to complete their assignments. Their knowledge and understanding of the topic will improve, but students will also learn generic approaches and skills such as critical analysis and complex reasoning. Students will be expected to develop skills in literature searching, information synthesis and drawing reasoned conclusions from resources and information provided throughout the course. During assignment completion, skills such as presentation, academic writing and accurate referencing should be developed. As the course is presented by online learning, it aims to contribute to students IT, writing and communication skills which can be applied to both clinical and academic environments.
GENERIC COGNITIVE SKILLS: the ability to apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront issues and developments, develop original and creative responses to problems and issues, critically review, consolidate and extend knowledge, skills, practices and thinking, deal with complex issues and make informed judgements in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information.
COMMUNICATION, IT AND NUMERACY SKILLS: use a wide range of routine skills and a range of advanced and specialised skills such as communication with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists, evaluation of a wide range of numerical and geographical data
AUTONOMY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND WORKING WITH OTHERS: exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in professional and equivalent activities, work in a peer relationship with specialist practitioners, demonstrate leadership and/or initiative and make an identifiable contribution to change and development and/or new thinking, manage complex ethical and professional issues |
| Special Arrangements |
None |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Neil Clark
Tel: (0131 2)42 6130
Email: neil.clark2@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Ewelina Skala
Tel: (0131 5)37 1000
Email: eskala2@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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