Contemporary Issues in Neuroscience

Dr Zoltan Sarnyai

Professor Joe Herbert

Professor Robin Franklin

Dr Tim Bussey

The brain is the last frontier of human biology. The functioning of the brain makes us what we are. The brain enables us survive as an individual and as a species, to react to the changing environment, to store and retrieve information from the past and make decisions accordingly. Such complex machinery could only work properly if it is very plastic and is able to change and repair itself. This course will cover four major issues that are currently in the forefront of brain research. We will discuss the neurobiology of key human drives, such as eating, drinking and having sex; the ways the brain deals with stress from the environment throughout our life; learning and memory and brain repair mechanisms.

The course consists of 4 modules divided into 12 lectures (1 h 15 min each) and 8 seminars (1 h 15 min each) linked to the lectures. The four modules are:

How does stress affect our brain? (Dr Zoltan Sarnyai)

Required Pre-Arrival Reading: To be compulsorily read before the start of the programme

• McEwen BS, Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain. Physiol. Rev. 2007 Jul;87(3):873-904.
• de Kloet ER, Joëls M, Holsboer F. Stress and the brain: from adaptation to disease. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2005 Jun;6(6):463-75.

Further Pre-Arrival Reading: Strongly recommended but not mandatory

• Sapolsky, R.M., Why zebras don’t get ulcers. 3rd edition, 2004 (available on amazon.com for $11.30)

Keeping you and your species alive: how the brain protects you from danger, ensures that you eat properly, drink when you need to, and reproduce (Professor Joe Herbert)

Required Pre-Arrival Reading: To be compulsorily read before the start of the programme

• J Herbert (2007) The Minder Brain World Scientific Press.

Further Pre-Arrival Reading: Strongly recommended but not mandatory

• A Peters (2011) The selfish brain. American Journal of Human Biology, vol 23 pp 29-34

Repairing the brain (Professor Robin Franklin)

Required Pre-Arrival Reading: To be compulsorily read before the start of the programme

• Franklin RJM, ffrench-Constant C. Remyelination in the CNS: from biology to therapy. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008 Nov; 9 (11):839-55.

Further Pre-Arrival Reading: Strongly recommended but not mandatory

• Fancy SPJ, Kotter MR, Harrington EP, Huang JK, Zhao C, Rowitch DH, et al. Overcoming remyelination failure in multiple sclerosis and other myelin disorders. Exp Neurol. 2010; 225:18-23

The neuroscience of learning and memory (Dr Tim Bussey)

Required Pre-Arrival Reading: To be compulsorily read before the start of the programme

• Gazzaniga, Ivry & Mangun (1998). Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind. Norton & Company. Chapter 7.
• Zigmond et al. (1999). Fundamental Neuroscience. Chapter 56.

Further Pre-Arrival Reading: Strongly recommended but not mandatory

• Bear, Connors & Paradiso (2001). Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain. Chapter 23.

The course is aimed at: students majoring in neuroscience or related discipline.

Pre-requisite knowledge required: some background in neuroscience is required. The level of the course is roughly similar to the Cambridge Part II courses, with some appropriate introductory materials included.

Assessment:

• 1 Final Exam:45%
• 1 Final Essay (2,500 to 3,000 words): 45%
• 1 Participation, progress and attendance:10%

Lecture Hours: 12 x 1hour 15 minutes (total 15 hours)

Seminar Hours: 8 x 1 hour 15 minutes (total 10 hours)