Cognitive neuroscience originated in two disciplines: in psychology, in the development of rigorous methods for analysing behaviour and cognition, and in systems neurobiology, in the effort to understand the structure and function of neuronal circuits of the sensory and motor systems of the brain.
The neurosciences have grown rapidly over the last half of the 20th century. This growth has been stimulated by two important developments. First, molecular biology has transformed cellular neurobiology and has led to a new conceptual framework for signalling, a molecular framework, that encompasses not only signalling in nerve cells in all the cells of the body. Second, work on brain and cognition, which was traditionally associated with a number of different disciplines (philosophy, medicine, physiology, psychology, ethology) has merged into a single discipline: cognitive neuroscience. This has provided a new framework for the study of memory, perception, action, language, and perhaps even conscious awareness.
In this course we will focus on the second development.
We also want to consider the broader question: Can molecular biology enlighten the study of cognitive processes, such as learning and memory? In turn, can cognitive neuroscience define novel phenomena that will lead to a completely new set of molecular mechanisms and insights? How is the interaction between the five levels of biological organization: the behaving organism, the integrated neural system, the neural circuit, the neuron, the molecular level? Mind and brain – two different entities?
Coordinator
dr. M.S. Oitzl
Doelgroep
MSc – Biology, Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences, Psychology. Special appointments for LACDR PhD students.
Toegangseisen
Background knowledge on neuroanatomy and –chemistry.
Onderwijsvorm
Morning sessions: A selection of the various topics of CN will be presented by experts from the Universities of Leiden, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. Students actively participate in the discussion (contributes to mark).
Afternoon activities: On the first day (Monday), students will choose their topic of interest, on which they will work
(preferentially in pairs) on the following days. Students will prepare a half-page summary of their topic (Thursday) and a Power Point presentation on Friday afternoon. Feedback is available by appointments with the experts (via e-mail or directly).
During the next two weeks, students write an essay on their topic (about 10 pages). Contact with supervisor(s) by appointment.
Information on a previous course (2005): http://www.mellyoitzl.org/cogneuro2005
Literatuur
General literature: see course description on web site.
Neuroscience._ 2nd ed._ Purves, Dale; Augustine, George J.; Fitzpatrick, David; Katz, Lawrence C.; LaMantia, Anthony-Samuel; McNamara, James O.; Williams, S. Mark.Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates, Inc.; 2001. Pub-Med – gives free online-access to this book.
Topics for student presentations and essays will be available 2 weeks before the beginning of the course.
Toetsing
Written report, oral presentation.
Rooster
From April 24 to April 28, 2006. See schedule of the lecture series in the master study guide 2005—2006.
Written report is due on Thursday, May 12.
Inschrijving
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Application by e-mail to Dr. Melly Oitzl, </font>m.oitzl@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl, until the end of March.
Opmerkingen
Maxixum number of 20 participants. Final programme of the lectures will be available early April.
PhD students of LACDR:
PhD students of LACDR receive 1 ECTS in the LACDR Graduate Training Programme if they:
*attend and actively participate in the course, *teach and support undergraduate students attending the course, and *present an oral presentation.
PhD students do not write a report.