Duration
30h Th, 30h Pr
Number of credits
| Bachelor in engineering | 5 crédits | |||
| Master in biomedical engineering (120 ECTS) | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course covers fundamental aspects of the nervous system. It is divided in two main parts (or PARTIM). The first part, taught by P. Leprince, focuses on cellular and molecular aspects, while the second part, presented by G. Vandewalle, concentrates on macroscopic and system level aspects of the functioning of the nervous system.
PARTIM1 : Introductory course on cellular and molecular neurobiology (P. Leprince)
The course is divided into six chapters dealing with the main cellular components and two pathological entities of the nervous system :
Components of the nervous system :
- Neurons
- Astrocytes
- Structure and function of Synapses
- Synaptic plasticity
- Spinal cord lesions and their repair
- Neurodegenerative diseases
The course is divided in 8 chapters:
1. Introduction
2. Neuroanatomy
3. Neuroimaging techniques
4. Sleep and wakefulness
5. Sensory systems
6. Visual system
7. Attention
8. Memory
Each chapter covers notions and basic principles that are often applicable to aspects that are not covered (e.g. audition).
Practical courses are also included in PARTIM2: realization of an neuroimaging experiment at the Cyclotron Research Centre.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
PARTIM1: Introductory course on cellular and molecular neurobiology (P. Leprince)
At the end of the course, the student will know the main morphological and biochemical as well as the main functions of the three major cell types present in the nervous system. He will know the dynamic organization and the roles of the cytoskeleton and those of the synapse. He will understand how the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity constitute the molecular basis of memory. He will know the basic cellular and molecular aspects of spinal cord injuries and of two types of neurodegenerative diseases: one genetically determined and the other with a spontaneous onset.
He will be able to integrate the role of cytoskeletal components and certain metabolic pathways in cellular dynamics during development, normal functioning and various pathologies of the nervous system.
PARTIM 2 Introduction to Cognitive Neurosciences (G. Vandewalle)
The student will assimilate the main bases of the functioning of the nervous system, without a detailed understanding of it. He will be able to explain a behavior on the basis of the sub-systems sustaining it. Through the practical part of the course, he will get a better idea of the type of work one could do within a biomedical orientation.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
PARTIM1 : Introductory course on cellular and molecular neurobiology (P. Leprince)
Biochemistry and Physiology courses in BAC2 and BAC3
PARTIM 2 Introduction to Cognitive Neurosciences (G. Vandewalle)
No prerequisites
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
PARTIM1 : Introductory course on cellular and molecular neurobiology (P. Leprince)
7 afternoons with 2h lectures
PARTIM 2 Introduction to Cognitive Neurosciences (G. Vandewalle)
Participative oral lectures: explanation of presented slides while students are encouraged to interrupt and ask questions.
Practical courses (mandatory): the group is divided in small groups (if necessary) and each group takes part to an electrophysiology experiment during one afternoon (4h)
Oral presentation on a theme related to the course and defined during the course (typically presentation of a paper in groups of 2 students). The presentation represents 28% of the final grade of PARTIM 2.
Practical courses and oral presentations are fully part of the course and are considered as mandatory. Any student that would not have completed these activity in due time or in the requested format will not be allowed to take the exam of PARTIM 2.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
PARTIM1 : Introductory course on cellular and molecular neurobiology (P. Leprince)
Face-to-face teaching
PARTIM 2 Introduction to Cognitive Neurosciences (G. Vandewalle)
Face-to-face teaching
Slide are writen in English and presented in French (they could be presented in English if requested).
Practical course (mandatory)
Recommended or required readings
PARTIM1 : Introductory course on cellular and molecular neurobiology (P. Leprince)
Extensive notes that are updated every year are available in pdf format on MyULg at the time of teaching
PARTIM 2 Introduction to Cognitive Neurosciences (G. Vandewalle)
No written notes are given to the students. Copies of the slides are e-mailed to all student before eaxch courses and student are encouraged to take notes.
No mandatory reading other than slides and personnal notes.
Recommended readings:
- Principles of Neural Science, 5th edition, eds. Kandel et al. (2013), Mc Graw Hill Companies
- Fundamental Neuroscience, 4th edition, eds. Squire et al. (2012) Elsevier
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination, divided in two parts, one for each partim.
For each partim, the student picks random questions, prepare his answers for 20 min before being interrogated for 20 min. The picked questions set the bases of a discussion that can cover all aspects of the course.
For PARTIM 2, the student must be able to locate different parts of the brain in an atlas (3 structures, of a list of about 10 given prior to the exam). Participation to the practical courses will be taken into account for the final mark. The evaluation of an oral presentation done by each student will also be taken into account (theme set during the course; 28% of the final grade of PARTIM 2).
The final mark corresponds to the arithmetic mean of both partim, except in case of a strong insufficiency in one of the partim (<8/20). In that case, the strong insufficiency prevails and the final mark corresponds to the strong insufficiency. NB: in that case, the student must take the entire exam again, i.e. both partim.
Work placement(s)
N/A
Organizational remarks
PARTIM2: Student are encouraged to print the slides of the course (small format). Slides will be sent via e-mail and made available on MyULg at least 24h prior to each course.
Contacts
Pierre Leprince
GIGA-Neuroscience
Université de Liège
CHU B36
B-4000 Liège
Belgique
Tél: 32 4 366 59 32
FAX: 32 4 366 59 12
pleprince@ulg.ac.be
Gilles Vandewalle
Cyclotron Research Centre
Bât. B30, Université de Liège - Sart Tilman
8 allée du Six Août, B-4000 Liege, Belgium
T: +32-4366-2367
F: +32-4366-2946
gilles.vandewalle@ulg.ac.be