Course Understanding neuroscience

The course, B156/12 Understanding Neuroscience, is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, autum 2021

Criteria for participation: University degree in medicine, dentistry, nursing, or Master’s degree in other fields and/or postgraduate research fellows (PhD students and research-year medical students).

Aim:Introduction to structural, physiological, and molecular biological organization of key brain areas (e.g., amygdala, hippocampus, cortex, spinal cord). Characterize their involvement during the normal brain functions and their alterations occurring in neurological/psychiatric disorders.

Learning outcomes: Upon completion of the course, participants can be expected to have an understanding of:

1. The role of key brain areas such as the amygdala and cerebral cortex in brain function. This includes learning, spatial and fear memory, motor behaviour.
2. Neuronal development and connectivity.
3. Neuronal communication, synaptic transmission and plasticity.
4. Neuron types and in silico modelling of neuronal networks.
5. Altered neuronal function and connectivity in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Content: The course is divided into a series of sections all dealing with different aspects of the current circuit neuroscience research. Sessions focusses on: Synaptic transmission, Synaptic plasticity and learning, Neurogenesis and neuronal connectivity identification, Neuron type diversity, Memory and spatial coding, Cortical oscillatory activity and its implication for normal and pathological brain activity, Ionic currents in the hippocampus – impact for health and disease, Glial cells and their role in the normal and pathological brain, Spinal cord, cerebellum and motor system. Human brain imaging in health and diseases.

Recommended knowledge for participation (if any): Background in Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology.

Venue: Det Blå Auditorium (1266-222), The Victor Albeck Building, Vennelyst Blvd. 4, 8000 Aarhus C.

Participation in the course is without cost for:

• PhD students, Research Year students and Research Honours Programme students from Aarhus University
• PhD students enrolled at partner universities of the Nordoc collaboration
• PhD students from other institutions in the open market agreement for PhD courses

Course dates:

• 30 November 2021 09:00 - 16:00
• 01 December 2021 09:00 - 16:00
• 02 December 2021 09:00 - 16:00
• 03 December 2021 09:00 - 16:00