Basic Neurobiology

Recommended Prerequisites

General biology, general biochemistry, general physiology.

Teaching Methods

A avaliação é um composto de:

- avaliação da apresentação oral e da participação nas sessões de apresentação de artigos científicos (50%)

- apresentação de uma monografia sobre um tema escolhido por cada discente e previamente validado pelos docentes (50%)

Learning Outcomes

The primary objective is to get acquainted with the biological and molecular basis of functioning of the central nervous system. The secondary objective is to develop competences to apply these generic concepts to solving a series of defined problems formulated in scientific papers selected for presentation and discussion.

Competences:

1-Recognition of the electrochemical basis of functioning of neuronal networks.

2-Ability to understand generic concepts and apply such concepts to particular situations.

3-Skills of oral presentation of scientific data in the form of scientific papers.

4-Ability to participate in group discussions of these scientific papers.

5-Ability to define the state of the art of a particular topic presented in the form of a short monography.

6-Acquisition of skills of self-learning (learn to learn).

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Lectures taught exclusively by the academic staff, aiming at the presentation of global concepts related to molecular, cellular and control processes associated to ageing, as well as of the main physiological and pharmacological changes present in the elderly.

The theoretical and practical classes take the form of guided seminars , and they include presentations and discussions of scientific articles (which were previously selected by the teachers) by the group of students.

Theoretical classes:

General organization of the nervous system

Synaptic plasticity and memory

Molecular bases of the brain diseases

Neuromodulation and neuroprotection

TP classes - Journal clubs

Presentation and discussion of selected articles.

Assessment Methods

Evaluation
participation in the group discussions of all scientific papers selected : 50.0%
presentation of a monography about a topic selected: 50.0%

Bibliography

Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, Katz LC, LaMantia AS, McManara JO, ‘Neuroscience’, Sinauer, 1997.

Kolb B, Wishaw IQ, ‘An introduction to Brain and Behavior’, Worth, 2001.