PN3313 Advanced Principles of Neuroscience

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Lectures: 12.00 pm Mon, Tue and Wed Practicals: to be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr A E Smith

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Team Taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module covers biochemical, cellular and behavioural aspects of the nervous system in health and disease. It starts with understanding of neuronal survival and loss, followed by the basic biochemistry of neural membrane proteins such as receptors and channels, and considers the cellular mechanisms of action potential generation and propagation, and synaptic transmission. The physiology of sensory perception is illustrated by examining the visual system, while motor control is considered in terms of vertebrate locomotion. Selected aspects of learning and memory processes are also examined. Students are given hands-on experience of computer simulation as a learning tool in this course. The associated practical work illustrates the lecture course through experiments on the nerve impulse, optogenetics and mechanisms of neuronal cell loss.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS BL2301 AND PASS PN2202

Assessment pattern

Continual assessment 40% (15% lab report 1 and 25% lab report 2) and 2hr Exam 60%

Re-assessment

Continual assessment 40% (15% lab report 1 and 25% lab report 2) and 2hr Exam 60%. Applies to failed components only

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

29 hours of lectures or tutorials in total, 3 x 3-hour practicals and 4 hours of computer simulation labs during the semester.

Scheduled learning hours

42

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

158

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • demonstrate knowledge of how individual neurons work
  • demonstrate knowledge of how neurons communicate with each other
  • demonstrate knowledge on how the nervous system receives information from the environment and how the nervous system can store this information
  • demonstrate knowledge of how neural interactions can generate behaviour
  • demonstrate how the methodologies are used to explore both the cellular properties of individual neurons and the circuit properties of neuronal networks