Experimental Neurobiology

Course manual 2019/2020

Course content

During this course, students will get hands-on experience with various commonly used research methods in the field of neuroscience and learn to critically evaluate the (dis)advantages of each of these techniques for answering specific research questions.

Topics that will be addressed are:

• neuronal activity and neuronal communication;
• (comparative) brain anatomy;
• animal behaviour test;
• molecular techniques;
• immunohistochemistry;
• electrophysiology;
• microscopy;

Students will learn more about these topics by means of seminars given by specialists in the field, practical work (in the lab as well as behind the computer), lab tours, written assignments and presentations.

Study materials

Literature

• Recent review and research articles are the base of lectures and practicals. These are announced on Canvas.

Syllabus

• The course syllabus, including instruction to perform the activities included in this course, is made available on Canvas

Practical training material

• All the materials necessary to perform the practical activities included in this course are provided by the course organization.

Software

• The software required to perform the practical "Neurons in action" is provided by the course organization.

Objectives

The main aim of this course is to gain insight into neuroscience research methods and their relevance for answering specific research questions relevant for the understanding of neuroscience, behaviour and cognition.

At the end of this course, students can

• explain how neuronal activity originates and how neurons communicate with each other, including basic their electrophysiological activity;
• recognize the major (sub)anatomical structures in the rodent and sheep brain and explain their main function(s), similarities and differences;
• execute basic experiments using several techniques commonly used in behavioural neuroscience using mice as animal model;
• execute basic experiments using several techniques commonly used in neuroanatomy and molecular neuroscience using mice as animal model;
• critically evaluate the (dis)advantages of state-of-the-art techniques for answering specific research questions in the field of basic and behavioural neuroscience.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
• Supervision/feedback meeting

Introductory lectures, (computer) practicum, lab practicals and site visits (Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience)

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.
3. The student must attend 80% of the teaching per study unit of the mandatory courses, entry courses and specialisation courses.

Additional requirements for this course:

To pass this course, students need to comply with the requirements stated in the  OER B. Exceptions can only be granted by the Examinations Board.

Assessment

The requirements to pass the partial exam are as established by the OER B.

Inspection of assessed work

Contact your supervisor to make an appointment for inspection.

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

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Last year's course evaluation

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

• Carlos Fitzsimons