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

This course will examine the mechanisms of nervous system development with special focus on the role of activity in shaping neural connectivity and physiology. It will examine the major advancements in the field of developmental plasticity since the Nobel Prize winning experiments of Hubel and Wiesel in the 1960s. It will examine how the various types of activity (i.e. spontaneous versus sensory-evoked) shape neural connectivity and physiology, drawing on studies using several sensory systems from a variety of mammalian species. We will examine the physiological basis of experience-dependent plasticity with special focus on the role of long-term potentiation and long-term depression on neural development. It will introduce students to recently evolving theories such as metaplasticity and spike-time dependent plasticity as possible mechanisms underlying synaptic information storage. Finally we will examine the molecular basis of activity-dependent plasticity with special focus on glutamate receptors and their downstream signaling pathways. The course will begin with broad introductory lectures covering the foundations of neural development, both embryonic and postnatal, to provide a firm understanding of the major issues confronting developmental neuroscientists. It will then move to seminar-based teaching where students will be expected to critically-evaluate and present recent papers in this rapidly growing field.

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Permission of the Curriculum Approval Officer. Physiology 3 and Developmental Neuroscience 3 are recommended.

? Costs : Photocopying papers and overheads

Home subject area

Physiology (Biomedical Sciences), (School of Biomedical Sciences, Schedule T)

Other subject areas

Physiology (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

All of the following classes

Type Day Start End Area Lecture Tuesday 14:00 17:00 Med+Vet

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

December exam. Written exam 100%. Duration 1 hour 15 minutes.

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

Course Secretary

Ms Victoria Farrar
Tel : (0131 6)50 3717
Email : v.farrar@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Dr Mike Cousin
Tel : (0131 6)50 3259
Email : M.Cousin@ed.ac.uk

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

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