Admission requirements
Basic knowledge of principles of neuroscience (Introduction to the Neuroscience, E. Lakke): Passive and active properties of neurons, Nernst-potential, Ohm’s law, action potential, voltage-dependent currents, synaptic transmission. Most important is student’s motivation and interest in the field. Contact coordinator for more details.
Description
Period: February 29 – March 25, 2016
The understanding of the neurophysiological basis of animal and human behavior and disease has been rapidly advanced in the last decade by new experimental methods in neuroscience. Among these are tissue culture of brain slices, nerve-muscle preparation, basics and advanced electrophysiological techniques and imaging methods.
The course is a theoretical and practical introduction into some of these methods, and these methods are used on different organizational levels (cell, brain slice, organotypic slice culture).
Program of the course
Lectures will be given on basic principles in neuroscience as well as on special research topics. Students will hear and discuss about neurophysiology (e.g. membrane physiology, synaptic transmission and plasticity, neuronal network functions), techniques (e.g. electrophysiology, brain imaging, cellular imaging) and neurological diseases and therapies (e.g. Huntington’s, Parkison’s, brain computer interface).
The practical part consists of five experimental blocks (student groups rotate weekly). With the maximum number of students (12) we will have 5 practical parts:
Bioluminesence imaging of neurons in organotypic slice
In vitro electrophysiology
Neuromuscular junction recordings
Calcium imaging in brain slices
Recording of field potentials in vivo and in vitro
In addition to the lectures and demonstrations, electrophysiological and imaging experiments will be carried out. The analysis and interpretation of data requires coordinated team work. Each student will finish with a short research report composed of Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.
This course will particularly work on:
Research competences:
Analyzing data, choosing appropriate techniques, integrate different biomedical disciplines
Professional competences:
Collaborating with peers, commitment, motivation and drive, respecting the rules of the group.
Course objectives
The student:
has a good understanding of the basic principles in neuroscience
knows how and is able to perform advanced experimental procedures to study neuronal and synaptic functions
is able to design experiments for testing hypotheses related to neurophysiology
Mode of instruction
Lectures, hands-on practicals, tutorials, journal club, workshops with self-study assignment, recapitulation sessions.
Assessment method
Written report on the practical; student behaviour (motivation, independency, oral reporting, participation in discussion); various group products which are marked on the basis of consensus; various individual student products which are marked on the basis of consensus, Interactive oral assessment (coordinator evaluates the student and vice versa) of progress during the course.