2023-2024 / NEUR0430-1

Principles of neurobiology

Duration

20h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Rachelle Franzen, Vincent Seutin

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course is sub-divided into 3 parts:

- Neuroanatomy (Franzen Rachelle)

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

- CNS vascularization

- Vegetative nervous system

- Sensory pathways

- Motor pathways

- Higher functions (memory, language)


- Cellular and developmental neurobiology (Laurence Delacroix):

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)



-  Ion channel physiology (Seutin Vincent ):

Methods used to record the activity of ion channels, with an emphasis on the configurations of the patch clamp technique.

Biophysical properties of ion channels: illustration by a few examples

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the courses, sutdents will be able to:

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.

 

Cellular and developmental 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).

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

BIOLOGIE générale - BIOL0847-2  


PHYSIOLOGIE générale - PHYL0320-6 


ANATOMIE - ANAT0224-2 

 

Introduction aux Neurosciences - NEUR0431

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

10 x 2h lectures

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

face-to-face teaching

Recommended or required readings

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 (traduite en français). D. Purves, G.J. Augustine, D. Fitzpatrick, W.C. Hall, A.-S LaMantia, J.O. McNamara, L.E. White. Editions de boeck.

Slides will be posted on my uliege the day before the lectures.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )


Additional information:

- Written exam 

  - MCQ (Neuroanatomy)

- Open questions: all parts of the course




 

 





 

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

Dr Rachelle Franzen

Tél: 32 4 366 51 92
rfranzen@uliege.be

 

Dr Laurence Delacroix
ldelacroix@uliege.be

 

Pr Vincent Seutin

Tél: 32 4 366 2525
V.Seutin@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs