Neuroscience II: Higher brain function
Course content
Higher brain functions are characterized by strongly involving the cerebral cortex; examples include attention, executive function, memory, reasoning, problem solving, decision making, emotions, high-level processing of visual and other sensory information, and language. The objective of the course is to convey extensive knowledge of the neuronal mechanisms and brain circuitry that underlie these functions in the healthy brain, derived from brain research within multiple disciplines. Moreover, students will come to apprehend how brain damage associated with injury, disease or addiction affects higher brain functions such as memory, executive functions, and the expression of motivated behavior and personality.
The course is based on a lecture series offered by researchers with expertise in advanced cerebral functions in both the healthy and diseased brain. Moreover, at journal clubs students will study, present and discuss original research articles representing the most important recent advances in the field. Within specific topics such as memory, emotions, or language, students are presented with the current scientific opinion derived from diverse lines of research, including studies in non-human primates, functional brain imaging, and psychological and electrophysiological techniques. Considerable emphasis will be given to case studies where consequences of specific lesions have helped to elucidate the mechanisms governing normal brain function.
MSc in Neuroscience - compulsory course
Not open for credit transfer students or other external students
After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:
Knowledge
Demonstrate knowledge about:
- Advanced sensory processes, e.g. speech comprehension or object recognition
- Attention and consciousness
- Memory
- Emotion and social cognition
- Executive functions and decision making
- Brain disease and the workflow in the clinical assessment of neurological and psychiatric patients
- Methods used for studying higher brain function
- Hemispheric specialization
Skills
- Discuss and evaluate the principles underlying the multitude of methods employed in cognitive neuroscience
- Master the role of specific brain areas and networks in specific cognitive functions (structure-function relationship)
- Discuss the relationship between localized or extensive brain damage and neurological deficits
Competences
- Independently identify the most important frontiers in higher brain function research
- Design novel experiments addressing higher brain function in both humans and animals.
- Systematically and independently be able to critically assess scientific literature covering higher brain function.
The course is composed of a series of lectures, journal clubs and case studies. During the course students will do a small thematic project (mini-review) and write a report to present.
See Absalon
- ECTS
- 2,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Written assignment, 1 week
- Type of assessment details
- Students will be given a written home assignment in context of
a
Thematic report (Mini-review) up to 15 pages long (max), including figures and references.
No supervision.
5 days preparation, but the report can be written at other times (see details) - Exam registration requirements
-
None
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- passed/not passed
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Internal examiner
Criteria for exam assessment
To achieve the grade Passed, the student must adequately be able to:
Knowledge
Demonstrate knowledge about:
- Advanced sensory processes, e.g. speech comprehension or object recognition
- Attention and consciousness
- Memory
- Emotion and social cognition
- Executive functions and decision making
- Brain disease and the workflow in the clinical assessment of neurological and psychiatric patients
- Methods used for studying higher brain function
- Hemispheric specialization
Skills
- Discuss and evaluate the principles underlying the multitude of methods employed in cognitive neuroscience
- Master the role of specific brain areas and networks in specific cognitive functions (structure-function relationship)
- Discuss the relationship between localized or extensive brain damage and neurological deficits
- ECTS
- 12,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Oral examination, 30 minutes under invigilation
- Type of assessment details
- Including 25minutes preparation including literature, notes and
other material.
The exam will be based on one major and one minor question (weighed about 2:1). It is expected that the student will deal with both questions. - Aid
- Only certain aids allowed
Preparation based on material provided by examiner, but no textbook
List of tentative exam topics (major and minor) will be available as examples - Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
Criteria for exam assessment
To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student must be able to:
Knowledge
Demonstrate knowledge about:
- Overall anatomy of the nervous system
- Morphology and function of cellular components of the nervous system
- Development of the nervous system
- Synaptic transmission
- Neurotransmitters and receptors
- Sensation and sensory processing
- Motor function
- Autonomic functions and neuroendocrinology
- Brain circulation and transport barriers
- Advanced sensory processes, e.g. speech comprehension or object recognition
- Attention and consciousness
- Memory
- Emotion and social cognition
- Executive functions and decision making
- Brain disease and the workflow in the clinical assessment of neurological and psychiatric patients
- Methods used for studying higher brain function
- Hemispheric specialization
Skills
- Describe the relation between structure and function of the nervous system
- Describe the nervous system from molecules and cells to sensory, motor and autonomic functions
- Combine knowledge of cellular components and functional systems of the nervous system
- Discuss the rationale for neuroscientific experiments used to study brain cells and circuits
- Describe the basic neurobiological processes underlying diseases of the nervous system
- Discuss and evaluate the principles underlying the multitude of methods employed in cognitive neuroscience
- Master the role of specific brain areas and networks in specific cognitive functions (structure-function relationship)
- Discuss the relationship between localized or extensive brain damage and neurological deficits
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 98
- Class Instruction
- 16
- Preparation
- 271
- Practical exercises
- 3
- Exercises
- 10
- Study Groups
- 13
- Exam Preparation
- 0,5
- Exam
- 0,5
- English
- 412,0
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- SNEU20004U
- ECTS
- See exam description
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Spring
- Schedulegroup
-
See Time Table
- Capacity
- 30
- Studyboard
- Study Board for Human Biology, Immunology and Neuroscience
Contracting department
- Department of Neuroscience
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Ole Kjærulff (10-7a76756c707d807771714b7e80796f397680396f76)
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