Somatosensory Mechanisms (U01069)

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

The somatosensory processing course focuses on the abnormal somatosensation of chronic pain states, which are difficult to treat and are a welfare problem and major threat to quality of life. Emphasis will be on the mechanisms by which chronic pain is bought about and analgesia may be induced. The molecular changes in spinal cord underlying chronic pain represent a distinct form of neural plasticity in the initial relays of the central nervous system. Study will focus on the physiological characteristics of peripheral nerves, the organisation of afferent pathways and the neuropharmacological and molecular mechanisms involved in somatosensory processing and its modulation, through lectures/practical/discussion sessions. Pain arising from nerve injury (neuropathic pain), unlike inflammation, is resistant to many centrally acting analgesics. Neural mechanisms underlying these different pain states and new targets for the design of therapeutic agents will be explored. Neurotransmission, nerve growth and signalling mechanisms in pathological states are addressed, coupled with investigations of clinical pain states, such as brain imaging techniques. There are several discussion/tutorial sessions based around oral presentations of specific aspects of the field, led by an expert. Short practical experiments allow hands-on familiarisation with (a) a particular technique, (b) quantitative data recording and analysis, (c) experimental protocol design/data capture, (d) data interpretation and presentation.

An oral presentation, a practical report and an essay will form the course assessment.

* 3/4 day sessions on Tues in Week 2, 4 to permit practical work.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

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

? Special Arrangements for Entry : Directors of Studies must contact the Programme Secretary or Programme Organiser for Honours Neuroscience before registering a student for this course. Priority is given to Honours Neuroscience students.