Molecular and cellular neurobiology. Ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Tyrosine-kinase receptors. Post-synaptic potentials. Development of the nervous system. Mechanisms of axonal growth and guidance. Survival of neurons. Nerve Growth Factor and its receptors. Behavioral Neurobiology. Short and long-term habituation and sensitization in Aplysia. Olfactory learning in Drosophila. Long-term potentiation in the hippocampus
- J.N. Nicholls, A.R. Martin, B.G. Wallace, P.A. Fuchs. From Neuron to Brain. Sinauer
- C. Hammond. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. Academic Press
- E.R. Kandel, J.H. Schwartz, T.M. Jessel. Principles of Neural Science. Mc Graw Hill.
- T.J. Carew. Behavioral Neurobiology. Sinauer.
- Aidley. The Physiology of Excitable Cells. Cambridge University Press
- G.M. Shepherd. Neurobiology. Oxford University Press.
Learning Objectives
Knolewdge acquired. Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the development of the nervous system and memory.
Competence acquired. Classify cognitive processes in their substrates and biological ontogenetic and evolutionary processes that produced them. Knowledge of the functions of nerve cells as a basis for the preparatory study of brain processes for the courses of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neuropsychopharmacology.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course). Ability to identify and relate the molecular and supramolecular parameters that control the development of the nervous system and memory in invertebrates and vertebrates. Understanding the methodological progress in the researches and the advancement of knowledge.
Prerequisites
Physiology, Biochemistry
Teaching Methods
Frontal teaching, virtual laboratory (NeuralSim) on resting, action potential and synaptic intgration
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab:
Recommended
Teaching tools: “NeuralSim” software
Type of Assessment
The final examination is intended to ensure the acquisition of knowledge and skills (i.e. the acquisition of learning outcomes) by conducting an oral examination consisting in the discussion of two topics presented in class
Course program
Molecular and cellular neurobiology. Ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Tyrosine kinase receptor. Post-synaptic potential. Excitatory and inhibitory role of GABA (circadian rhythms and homeostasis of chloride). Neurogenesis in insects: the Notch-Delta system. Neurogenesis in vertebrates: Neurogenin, NeuroD, and Notch signaling. Dorsal-ventral differentiation of the neural tube: BMP, Sonic Hedgehog, patched and smoothened. Antero-posterior differentiation of the neural tube: the formation of the hindbrain, midbrain and telencephalon. Mechanisms of axonal growth and guidance. Growth cone. Laminin and integrins. Neuronal adhesion molecules. Survival of neurons. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). Low (LNGFR, p75) and high affinity (trk, p140) neurotrophic receptors. Behavioral neurobiology. Aplysia as experimental model. Habituation and synaptic depression. Sensitization and pre-synaptic facilitation. S-type potassium channel. Classical conditioning. Dependent-activity pre-synaptic facilitation. Long term habituation and sensitization. c-AMP Response Elements (CRE) and CRE binding protein (CREB). Local protein synthesis and synaptic capture. Olfactory learning in Drosophila. Synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus: Long-Term Potentiation (LTP). Silent synapses. LTP and spatial memory. Local and temporal restriction of gene expression.