Advances in Neurosciences II

Duration

55h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Julie Bakker, Charlotte Cornil, Rachelle Franzen, Anne-Simone Parent

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

"Advances in Neurosciences II" includes 3 aspects in Neurosciences:
- Neuroanatomy (Dr Franzen)
- 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) Neuroanatomy
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- understand the general organization of the nervous system, the functioning of its main sub-divisions
- explain the hierarchical organization of the motor and sympathetic systems
- explain the pathways providing sensory modalities
- explain the different components of pain: localization, perception, emotion, autonomous component and control.
- describe the vasculature of the CNS
- describe CNS protections
 
2) 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


3) 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
- 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

1) Neuroanatomy
Passive knowledge of English (reading only)
2) Behavioural neurosciences
Good knowledge of English since the course will be taught in English (but questions may be asked in French in case things are not clear).


3) Neuroendocrinology
Passive knowledge of English (reading only)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

1) Neuroanatomy
The course will be given form of "inverted class". The teaching objectives will be given at the beginning of the course, as well as the resources required for the students to answer them. Students will work alone or in small groups, depending on their total number. Pools will be held regularly in class, during which students will present their work (in English preferably), which will be the subject of discussions / corrections (French or English).
2) Behavioural Neurosciences
The course will consist of presentations by the teacher. One or two research papers highlighting original data will be provided the week before each class to stimulate an active interaction between the students and the teacher.  


3) 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. 

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

1) Neuroanatomy
Face-to-face and inverted class
2) Behavioural Neurosciences
Face-to-face
3) Neuroendocrinology
Face-to-face

Recommended or required readings

2) Behavioural Neurosciences
Some chapters will be used from 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.
3) 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).

Assessment methods and criteria

1) Neuroanatomy
Participation at the lectures/inverted class  and an oral exam at the end.
2) Behavioural Neurosciences
Participation at the lectures and a written exam at the end (consisting of multiple choice questions but also some open questions).
3) 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)

Organizational remarks

All classes, for the 3 different courses,  will be given in the meeting room of the GIGA-Neurosciences, Pathology tower, B36, 1st floor. Note that this course can be given in french and/or english.

Contacts

1) Neuroanatomy
Dr Rachelle Franzen, rfranzen@uliege.be (04/3665192)
2) Behavioural Neurosciences
Dr Julie Bakker, jbakker@uliege.be (04/3665978)
3) Neuroendocrinology
Dr Charlotte Cornil, charlotte.cornil@uliege.be (04/3665966)
Dr Anne-Simone Parent, asparent@uliege.be (04/3662546)

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

NEURO-ANATOMY / Ms FRANZEN
-Inverted class method is maintained: students work at home (groups of 2 students) to prepare slides and notes on a specified chapter (defined earlier in February).
They send their work to the professor, for corrections, before its distibution to all classmates.
 
BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCES/ BAKKER
 
All the courses were recorded with a podcast to explain the different slides.

Assessment subjects

Neuro-anatomy - FRANZEN:
All objectives will be concerned by the evaluation, to maintain equity between the different work groups
 
BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCES/ BAKKER
 
All lectures before and after COVID-19 are going to be evaluated

Assessment methods

FRANZEN:
Written exam, on line (e-campus) - Multiple Choice questions only - cotation: 0 / +1
 
BAKKER:
Written exam, on line (e-campus) - Only multiple questions - cotation 0 /+1  
CORNIL - PARENT

Contacts

Franzen Rachelle 
rfranzen@uliege.be
Tel at work: 04/3665192

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

NEURO-ANATOMY - FRANZEN:
All objectives will be concerned by the evaluation, to maintain equity between the different work groups
 
BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCES/ BAKKER
  All lectures before and after COVID-19 are going to be evaluated

Assessment methods

FRANZEN:
ORAL examination (Collaborate or Lifesize)   
BAKKER:
Written exam, on line (e-campus) - Only multiple questions - cotation 0 /+1  

Contacts

rfranzen@uliege.be
charlotte.cornil@uliege.be

Items online