Course content

NEVR2030 provides a thorough introduction to contemporary neuroscience. The course covers central themes and the corresponding disciplines that are relevant for neuroscience, including the neuron and neuronal networks, the organization and development of the central nervous system, systems in the central nervous system including the sensory and motor system, as well as elements from cognitive and clinical neuroscience. The course also provides an introduction in philosophy and ethics of neuroscience. The course may be taken by students from a variety of disciplines including electronics, cybernetics, informatics, computational science or biophysics who want to learn more about neuroscience (see also NEVR2010 for a more elaborate version).

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate will be able to:

• demonstrate introductory level of knowledge of the research fields in neuroscience including its subareas; Molecular, Cellular, Systems Neuroscience, Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience.
• have introductory level of knowledge about relevant methodologies and techniques in neuroscience.
• have introductory level of insight of basic brain structure and function at the ionic and molecular level.
• demonstrate introductory level of knowledge in sensory and motor systems.
• have introductory level of knowledge about how molecular, biochemical, cellular and physiological aspects mutually contribute to neural systems, and can be affected in pathological conditions.

Skills

The candidate will be able to:

• understand general concepts in the field of neurosciences,
• relate their introductory neuroscience training to daily life concepts ( sleep, memory, senses, motor action) and few neurological conditions, such neurodegenerative diseases, dementia, epilepsy
• have basic knowledge of relevant methods neuroscience

General competencies

The candidate will develop:

• introductory competence on how to analyse and formulate relevant general issues in neuroscience.
• introductory competence on how brain circuits develop, assemble and function, and how this relates to daily life concepts and disease.
• introductory competence on how neural systems contribute to sensory experiences, thoughts, emotions, behavior. This includes structure and function of the neuron, synapse and synaptic transmission, transmitter, membrane potential, methods to assess brain activity, neuronal integration and modulation.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures. The course will be held in English in view of the high number of exchange students taking the course.

Further on evaluation

Regular final examination is given in the autumn semester only. The exam questions are in English but students can write their answers in English, bokmål or nynorsk. Students with legitimate leave of absence at the final examination and students who received the grade F may take a re-sit examination in the spring semester.

Recommended previous knowledge

Elementary background in biology.

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

Neuroscience by Purves et. al, 5th edition Sinauer. Course lecture slides.

Credit reductions