Duration
35h Th
Number of credits
| Master in biomedicine (120 ECTS) | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
"Advances in Neurosciences II" includes 2 aspects in Neurosciences:
- Behavioural neurosciences (Dr Bakker)
Behavioral neuroscience is also known as biological psychology, biopsychology, or psychobiology. It concerns the study of physiological, genetic, and developmental mechanisms of behavior in humans and other animals. It focuses in particular on how the brain affects certain behaviors, including instinct behaviors like reproductive, maternal, and aggressive behavior, as well as higher cognitive functions such as learning & memory, and different mental states such as anxiety and depression.
The course will focus on the different methodologies that can be used to study neural networks involved in one particular behavior. It will also address the causes of a variety of maladaptive behaviors such as Schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and depression.
- Neuroendocrinology (Dr Cornil & Dr Parent)
Neuroendocrinology is a sub-field of neurosciences that studies how the nervous system controls the activity of endocrine glands and how hormones influence brain functions. The control of reproduction, sexual behavior, growth or energitic balance are functions regulated by neuroendocrine systems.
This field is thus at the junction between cellular and molecular biology and the analysis of higher brain functions such as behvaior or memory. The course will present the anatomic and functional bases of the different neuroendocrine systems and will illustrate their integration through the detailled analysis of selected systems. The analysis of these systems will be supported by concrete experimental examples.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
1) Behavioural Neurosciences
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand how the brain controls behavior
- Study the neural network or one particular neuronal population underlying a behavior
- Understand the mechanisms underlying certain behavioral and psychological/psychiatric disorders
2) Neuroendocrinology
At the end of this course, students will be able to :
- understand basic principles of neuroendocrinology (mode of action of hormones, feedback systems, ...) and the fundamental role played by hormones for the survival of organisms
- understand how hormones regulate complex behaviors or physiological processes
- understand how hormones influence the establishment of sex differences
- critically analyze a research paper in neuroendocrinology
- critically describe and analyze scientific results shown in class or similar
- reason about new problems based on class material
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Behavioral Neurosciences:
A good understanding of written and spoken English will be necessary since the course will be taught in English. However, questions and discussions are allowed in French.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
1) Behavioural Neurosciences
The course will consist of presentations by the teacher. For some classes, a paper highlighting original data could be provided the week before to stimulate an active interaction between the students and the teacher.
2) Neuroendocrinology
The course will consist in presentations by the teachers of basic concepts developped in chapters from the reference textbook. These chapters along with one or two research papers highlighting original data will be provided a few weeks prior to each class in order to stimulate an active exchange between students and teachers. Questions might be asked during the lecture to evaluate the integration of prepared concepts. Finally, some classes may consist of presentation by students to promote active learning.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
1) Behavioural Neurosciences
Face-to-face
2) Neuroendocrinology
Face-to-face
Recommended or required readings
1) Behavioural Neurosciences
Some lectures will be based on the textbook "Physiology of Behavior", 11th edition, by Neil R. Carlson: chapter 5 on different methods and strategies of research, and chapters 16 and 17 dedicated to several behavioral and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, anxiety etc.
2) Neuroendocrinology
The course is mostly based on the books « Handbook of Neuroendocrinology » by G. Fink, D. Pfaff and J. Levine and "An introduction to behavioral endocrinology" by Randy J. Nelson (4th edition).
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
- Remote
oral exam
Additional information:
1) Behavioural Neurosciences
Participation at the lectures and an oral exam at the end. The exam consists of theoretical questions but also tests the ability of the student to interpret experimental data and to think about potential experiments to further study the question. The student wil have preparation time before the actual oral exam.
2) Neuroendocrinology
The evaluation will consist in an oral exam based on a theoretical question combined with the analysis of a set of original research data as illustrated during class. The student will have preparation time before the actual oral exam.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
le lieu de cours peut varier
Contacts
1) Behavioural Neurosciences
Dr Julie Bakker, jbakker@uliege.be (04/3665978)
2) Neuroendocrinology
Dr Charlotte Cornil, charlotte.cornil@uliege.be (04/3665966)
Dr Anne-Simone Parent, asparent@uliege.be (04/3662546)