Objectives/ aim
To gain a general understanding of the functioning of (special) sensory systems; how a signal is acquired, transduced and processed.
To become acquainted with the cognitive processes related to the special senses.
To exercise your ability to formulate and present a subject.
To exercise your ability to formulate an ad-hoc question and to interpret and comment on the response.
Content
The first aim of this elective is to gain insight in the intricacies of the special senses, both at the level of the sensor organ (signal transduction and local signal processing), as well as at the level of the central nervous system (cognitive and precognitive processing). To attain this aim one of the special senses will be discussed extensively, both from scientific and from clinical points of view. Please note that the target is comprehension not learning by heartt!
The second aim of the elective is to introduce you to the research techniques and methodology of the neurosciences. To attain this aim you will be required to read papers that cover methods and techniques, and to summarize these.
Literature
Boron, Boulpaep, Medical Physiology, Updated Ed, ISBN 1-4160-2328-3
Bear, Connors, Paradiso; Neuroscience, Exploring the Brain; 3rd Ed. 2006, Baltimore, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; ISBN 0-7817-6003-8
Form of tuition
The daily program will be as follows. Each morning there will be a one to two hour lecture on aspects of the special senses c.q. auditory and visual systems. The afternoon is set aside for group-wise study assignments, and at the next day each group will present their results. Most study assignments will entail reading a number of related papers with the aim to come to understand a particular research method. Each cooperating group of (four) students will then prepare a presentation regarding this method, and one of the students will present this summary during the afternoon session (use of Powerpoint is compulsory, presentation to last an absolute maximum of 7 minutes). Please note that each group will be required to present their summary every day (for a total of eight days), and that in principle each student will be required to present the results of her or his group at least twice (NB these numbers are subject to change, depending on subscription). The presentations will be graded, and these grades will count towards your final grade. Hence cooperation will be very important. All presentations will be published on Blackboard. You will also be required to pose questions regarding the presentations of the other groups. Eight days and five groups will result in max 40 presentations, 32 of those “not by your group”. Each student will be required to pose two (2) original questions immediately following a presentation of his or her choice. You should note down the answer, and subsequently email the question, its answer and a commentary on the answer to me. This activity too will count towards your grade.
Those of you that would like to work together can indicate so; group size 4 students max. Students that do not indicate a specific preference will be allocated to groups by me.
The exam on Friday will consist of assignments similar to the ones you received throughout the week.
The exam assignment will be published on Blackboard at 0900 on the last Friday of the course (November 6th); there will be several versions that I will assign to each and everyone. The exam will be open everything, and is to be completed at a location of your own choice (i.e. there will be no locale provided by me).
Mode of assessment
Each students- two presentations (see above); each 15% of final grade
Each students- two questions (see above); each 5% of final grade
Exam assignment (similar to the course assignments); 60% of final grade
N.B. Presentations during the course will be graded both by the course co-ordinator and by your peers. Average peer-grade counts for 50% of the grade for each presentation.
Entry requirements/recommended prior knowledge
Second year courses “Introduction in the Neurosciences” (B2IN) and “Hormones and the Nervous System” (B2HN).
Registration/enrolment
A maximum of 20 students can be accommodated.