NWI-BB034B
Neurobiology
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleNWI-BB034B
Credits (ECTS)6
CategoryBA (Bachelor)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Science; BioWetenschappen;
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator
prof. dr. T. Celikel
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
prof. dr. T. Celikel
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
prof. dr. T. Celikel
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2017
Period
KW4  (16/04/2018 to 02/09/2018)
Starting block
KW4
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
After successfully finishing this course you should be able to:
  • Explain why would one need 10 glial cells for each neuron?
  • Describe the compartments of a neuron. How would one create a calculator out of a neuron?
  • Discuss the smallest computational unit in the brain? What a single neuron can and cannot do?
  • Mechanistically explain how does a synapse work? How to generate electricity from molecular interactions. How the electrical signals integrate, sum and cancel out each other.
  • Speculate on how to connect neurons? And shape their connectivity at will!
  • Discuss ions, channels, and proteins in the brain? Have a three minute elevator talk on how table salt and potassium in banana allow neurones to communicate with each other?
  • Explain fundamentals of brain plasticity? How to remedy phantom limb pain? How critical is the critical period of developmental plasticity.
  • Link brain plasticity to learning and memory? Discuss if one can store artificial memories?
  • Explain, based on neuronal data, how to discriminate a pen from a pencil when ones eyes shut? Neurobiology of touch, vision, audition, olfaction and gustatory sensing
  • Explain the cellular, structural, synaptic, network and functional organisation of the brain from a biological perspective.
  • Critically discuss the neurobiology of a cell/sensory receptor, independent from its location in the peripheral or central nervous system.
The student have enough background to read, understand and critique majority of the neurobiology, sensory biology, circuit biology literature based on experimental methods commonly applied in modern neurobiology.
Content
The course focuses on the fundamentals of neurobiology with a particular interest in synaptic, cellular and circuit level organisation of the nervous system to help understand how behavioural function is generated from these elementary levels of the brain organisation.
Literature

• There is no required text/textbook.
• All course materials will be available on the blackboard.
• Slides of the each lecture will be available for students to download under Course Content / Lecture slides before lectures.

Teaching formats

• 16 hours computer course
• 36 hours lecture
• 4 hours question session

Additional comments
This course will be taught in English Grading: Instructor:Prof. Dr. Tansu Celikel -- (office location: HG02.208)
Office hours: Anytime by appointment, arranged via e-mail (t.celikel@donders.ru.nl)
Teaching assistant:Alireza Azarfar, MSc, Promovendus

Test information
2 exams (1 midterm + 1 final), each contributing to the final grade equally

Prerequisites
Prior successful completion of the following courses is a prerequisite for registration: "Dierfysiologie" (or "Algemene Fysiologie"), "Moleculaire Biologie" and "Celbiologie".

Required materials
Blackboard

Instructional modes
Course occurrence

Lecture

Practical computer training

Response course

Tests
Tentamen
Test weight1
Test typeDigital exam with TAO
OpportunitiesBlock KW4, Block KW4

Remark
herkansing is niet digitaal