Brain Programming; Early-life, Epigenetics and Environment

Course manual 2021/2022

Course content

Over the past decades, it has become more and more evident that vulnerability to psychopathology or brain disorders per se, is not only determined by a gene X environment interaction but that it is actually a three way interaction gene X environment X development.

In other words, it is not nature OR nurture, it is how nature interacts with nurture that determines the later risk for psychopathology. Important questions in brain research today are how risk genes and environmental factors can lead to changes in neural development such that relevant circuits are prone to psychopathology? What are the unique developmental mechanisms by which early experiences can, positively and negatively, exert long-term consequences for risk and resilience to brain disorders?

The main aim of this course is to familiarize the students with the most relevant clinical and animal studies in the field, understand some of the underlying mechanisms with a focus on epigenetic mechanisms. Insights in the upcoming and current technical approaches used to study these questions will also be discussed in detail.

Study materials

Literature

Objectives

• describe historical and clinical human studies on how early life experience, or e.g. early stress exposure and nutrition, can affect the later vulnerability to develop adult brain disorders and cognitve decline.
• describe some of the most common animal models used to study the underlying (molecular) mechanisms of early life programming.
• describe the current methods to study epigenetic modifications.
• critically judge scientific articles and the data presented in it.
• pitch your grant proposal to a committee of experts.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

Learning activities

Attendance

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

1. Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.

Assessment

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.

Additional information

blackboard site will be available

language will be english

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. A. Korosi