Neuroscience: From Cell to Behaviour

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

The  course Neuroscience: From Cell to Behaviour provides students with up-to-date insight into fundamental aspects of brain function in various organisms, predominantly rodents and humans, and with a focus on theory, experimental approaches, and interpretation and translatability of findings to the human situation.

In this course we will discuss molecular and cellular determinants of brain function and brain structure. Important topics include cellular activity and synaptic plasticity. We will then use this specific knowledge of neuroscience and learn more about cellular and systemic processes that underlie behaviour. Finally, we will discuss how environmental variables can influence behaviour and even induce disease states. We will also discuss the validity of animal models, the challenges of reproducibility and the importance of sharing negative results.

During the course, students will be introduced to a wide variety of experimental methods and techniques that are relevant for preclinical and/or clinical behavioural neuroscience. As preclinical research is still key to providing us with insight into molecular (mal)adaptations underlying (aberrant) behaviour, we will also discuss advantages and disadvantages of both clinical and preclinical research, the current “crisis” of translatability in preclinical research, and (personal) challenges that topic experts experienced. 

Study materials

Literature

• Articles provided by guest lecturers (provided via Canvas)

Objectives

• Understand the promises and pitfalls of (translational) research for human health and disease
• Identify important molecular and cellular substrates of behaviour
• Understand how these substrates are causally and reciprocally linked to behaviour
• Critically assess various theories, experiments and their interpretation in (cognitive) neurobiology
• Be able to communicate the findings of a complex scientific publication to peers in presentation form

Teaching methods

• Self-study
• Lecture
• Presentation/symposium
• Seminar
• Fieldwork/excursion
• Supervision/feedback meeting

Lectures provide fundamental knowledge and a deeper look into how knowledge about the neuroscientific study of behavior is constructed and experienced. Designing and performing a presentation for peers about a complex data article will test the student's insight and ability to communicate about research (quality).

Learning activities

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

1. In the case of practicals, the student must attend at least 80%. Should the student attend less than 80%, he/she must redo the practical, or the Examinations Board may have one or more supplementary assignments issued.
2. In the case of study-group sessions with assignments, the student must attend at least 80% of the study-group sessions. Should the student attend less than 80%, he/she must redo the study group, or the Examinations Board may have one or more supplementary assignments issued.

Additional requirements for this course:

When a student cannot attend a practical or other activity due to illness, the course coordinator should always be informed as soon as possible. In all other scenarios, the student should request permission from the course coordinator to miss a practical or an other activity. 

Assessment

A Day-test is a ‘closed-book exam’, i.e. no handwritten notes, books and electronic equipment are allowed. Phones and laptops/iPads in your bag.

The final exam is a ‘closed-book exam’, i.e. no handwritten notes, books and electronic equipment are allowed. Phones and laptops/iPads in your bag. When a 5.4 or lower is scored for the final exam, this wil result in a resit. 

Assignments

• Day-test grade: Highlights lectures by guest lecturers end with a day-test with multiple-choice questions which you answer in writing. This is graded individually. The average of all five (5) daytests makes up the final day-test grade.
• Presentation: each student will work on one topic (provided by the course organizer) resulting in one oral presentation per student. This is graded individually. 
• Final exam: each student will do a final exam, with open and multiple-choice questions, which you answer in writing. This is graded individually. 

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

 Availability of a Canvas site

To optimally prepare for the course, we recommend perusing (parts of) the following readings
- Principles of Neuroscience: Kandel, Schwartz, Jessel
- Cognitive Neuroscience: Gazzaniga
- Biological Psychology: Kalat

Last year's student feedback

In order to provide students some insight how we use the feedback of student evaluations to enhance the quality of education, we decided to include the table below in all course guides.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. J.D. Mul

Staff

• dr. A.A. Dijkstra
• M.H. Hardonk MSc
• Helmut Kessels
• dr. H.J. Krugers
• prof. dr. P.J. Lucassen
• dr. Marlies Oostland
• dr. Rixt van der Veen