Duration
40h Th
Number of credits
| Bachelor in biomedicine | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Laurence Delacroix, Rachelle Franzen, Gaëtan Garraux, Vincent Seutin
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This module brings together several disciplines:
1. Neuroanatomy (16h)
In neuro-anatomy classes, we study the different anatomical structures that make up the central nervous system. How do these structures interact with each other to ensure motor, sensory and vegetative functions?
The course is divided into different chapters:
- Brain (telencephalon and diencephalon) and its protections (bones and meninges, CSF)
- Brain stem and cranial nerves
- Cerebellum
- Spinal cord
- Vegetative nervous system
- CNS vascularization
- Sensory pathways
- Motor pathways
- Higher functions (memory, language)
2. Neurophysiology (12h)
The nervous system is specialized in information processing
Following a brief introduction to the function, anatomy and histology of the human nervous system, several fundamental questions are adressed:
How is the information coded by electrical signals ?
How does the information spread in nerve cells ?
How is the information transmitted from one cell to another ?
How do nervous circuits develop and how can they be modified during life?
How is maintained the homeostasis of the nervous system ?
The course is organized into 6 chapters:
I. Overview on system nervous morphology and physiology
II. Communication within
III. Communication between I
IV Communication between II
V. Micro- and macro- circuits
VI. System nervous homeostasis
3. Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology (8h)
Chapter 1: The development of the nervous system (2h)
Chapter 2: Neurons: specialized in communication (2h)
Chapter 3: Astrocytes: guides and suppliers of Energy (1h)
Chapter 4: Oligodendrocytes: specialists in insulation and protection (1h)
Chapter 5: Microglia: monitor, defend and repair (1h)
Chapter 6: Stem Cells and Regeneration in the Adult Brain (30 min)
Chapter 7: Interactions and interdependence of neurons and glial cells (30 min)
4. Neurophysiological techniques (4h)
This course covers the main electrophysiological techniques that are used in cellular and molecular Neuroscience. We emphasize the patch clamp technique and the various methods used to directly study biophysical properties of ion channels. Optogenetics is briefly described.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Neuroanatomy:
At the end of this course, the student will be able to describe and locate the structures constituting the CNS. He will understand their functions, and will be able to integrate them into the anatomical pathways regulating sensitivities, motricity, vegetative functions and higher functions.
Neurophysiology:
Taching will assist the student in learning the general principles that govern the functioning of the nervous system in humans.
Based on ionic and molécular mechanisms, the student will be able to predict the consequences of changes in the ionic environment on cellular communication in the nervous system, to understand the consequences of genetic or pharmacological modifications of the properties of transmembrane proteins of nerve cells.
The student will be able to describe how electrical signals propagate from one end of the nerve cell to the other and how these electrical signals are communicated to other neurons or effectors of the nervous system.
The integration of knowledge will be promoted by the study of elementary nerve circuits such as the stretch reflex by its 6 main components: sensory receptor, afferent path, integration and distribution of electrical signals along several parallel paths, efferent path, effectors, and modulation by descending pathways
The student will be able to understand why the functioning of neurons is closely related to the biochemical and cellular composition of their immediate environment.
Neurobiology:
At the end of the 8 hours of theoretical course, the student will be able to:
- To trace the processes essential to the formation and regionalization of the main structures of the nervous and peripheral system.
- To understand the developmental origin of the different cell types making up the nervous system.
- To know the bases of gene instruction of cell fate as well as the influence of environmental cells (diffusible actors or cell contacts).
- To understand the emergence of neuronal diversity.
- To understand the importance of this neuronal diversity in the functioning of the mature brain.
- To know the main morphological and molecular characteristics of neurons and glial cells and to understand their links with cellular function.
- Explain the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in neuronal migration, axonal growth, synaptogenesis, maturation and synaptic plasticity.
- To know the basic principles governing the interactions between neurons and glial cells.
- To explain certain experimental approaches used in pre-clinical studies of neurodevelopmental biology (animal models, imaging techniques, detection and quantification of cells).
Neurophysiological techniques
At the end of this course, the student should be able to correctly interpret the results of an electrophysiological experiment as displayed graphically, for example to distinguish the cellular and molecular levels (single channel), as well as the type of recording (current clamp vs voltage clamp)
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Neurophysiological techniques
Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's first law, concepts of capacitance and resistance
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
- Ex-cathedra courses
- Quizz
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Many learning objectives can also be reached by using the following optional textbooks:
Mayo Clinic Medical Neurosciences: Organized by Neurologic Systems and Levels, (6 edn) 2017 Eduardo E. Benarroch, Jeremy K. Cutsforth-Gregory, Kelly D. Flemming. Edition Oxford academic
Neurosciences, 6ème édition, 2019 (translated in french). D. Purves, G.J. Augustine, D. Fitzpatrick, W.C. Hall, A.-S LaMantia, J.O. McNamara, L.E. White. Editions de boeck.
-Slides: e-campus and/or MyUliege
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
Out-of-session test(s)
Further information:
Written exam
- Open questions (Course of Me Delacroix, Mr Seutin and Me Franzen)
- MCQ: Course of Mr Garrraux and Me Delacroix et Franzen
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Pr Rachelle FRANZEN
rfranzen@uliege.be
Pr Laurence DELACROIX
ldelacroix@uliege.be
Pr Gaëtan GARRAUX
ggarraux@uliege.be
Pr Vincent SEUTIN - Lab of Neurophysiology of the GIGA Neurosciences
v.seutin@uliege.be