? Credit Points : 10  ? SCQF Level : 10  ? Acronym : BMS-4-MEsb

This course aims to give students an understanding of the nature, functions and control of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress axis, and its role in regulating brain function both in the normal state and during adaptation to changes in the internal and external environment.

The objectives are to understand (a) the components of the HPA axis and their interactions in regulating the stress response; (b) the regulation of neuronal and synaptic function in the brain by stress hormones, particularly glucocorticoids; and (c) the role of stress hormones, their receptors and related control elements in specific physiological conditions of adaptation in the brain. Resetting of activity of the stress response axis as a result of early experience, pregnancy and ageing will be discussed. The interactions between the immune system and the stress axis will be considered. Understanding the disorders that are attributable to chronic stress will be a focus for advanced discussion; these include anxiety, depression, impairment of cognitive ability, and altered metabolic regulation and its consequences.

Teaching Methods: The course will include seminars covering the core aspects of the subject. Students will write an essay and take part in 'journal club' type meetings to discuss relevant research papers. Students will be organised into small teams and presented with a number of current research problems in the field. They will be expected to gain an overview of an area, then investigate a specific aspect from the literature and give an argued presentation on published experimental research that addresses the problem. No practical elements.

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Permission of the Curriculum Approval Officer.

? Co-requisites : Physiology 3 and Brain and Behaviour 3 are recommended.

? Prohibited combinations : This course cannot be taken with U01072 - Glucocorticoids in the Brain (Neuroscience)

Home subject area

Medical Biology (Biomedical Sciences), (School of Biomedical Sciences, Schedule T)

Other subject areas

Medical Biology (Biological Sciences), (School of Biological Sciences, Schedule K)

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) 45 minutes per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date Start End Room Area Additional Information 21/09/2007 09:00 12:00 Seminar Room 4, Medical School, Teviot Med+Vet

All of the following classes

Type Day Start End Area Lecture Friday 09:00 10:50 Central

Increased understanding of biological processes.
Detailed learning outcomes will be provided later.

December Exam 100% Written Examination Duration 1 hr 30 mins

Exam times

Diet Diet Month Paper Code Paper Name Length 1ST December 1 - 1 hour(s) 30 minutes

The Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries.

Course Secretary

Ms Pascal Lynch
Tel : (0131 6)50 3289
Email : Pascal.Lynch@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Prof Gareth Leng
Tel : (0131 6)50 2869
Email : Gareth.Leng@ed.ac.uk

School Website : http://www.dbcls.med.ed.ac.uk/

College Website : http://www.mvm.ed.ac.uk/