Undergraduate Course: Somatosensory Mechanisms (NEBM10012)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Neuroscience (Biomedical Sciences) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | 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 the 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, afferent pathways and the neuropharmacological and molecular mechanisms involved in somatosensory processing and its modulation, through lectures and 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 and signalling mechanisms in pathological states are addressed, coupled with investigations of clinical pain states, such as brain imaging techniques. There are several discussion sessions based around oral presentations of specific aspects of the field.
An oral presentation and an essay will form the course assessment.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed
Pharmacology 3 (BIME09003) OR
Physiology 3 (BIME09004)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Med And Vet | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 09:00 - 13:00 | | | | | Med And Vet | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | | 09:00 - 13:00 |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Increased understanding of biological processes.
Detailed learning outcomes will be provided later. |
Assessment Information
| 100% In-Course Assessment. |
Special Arrangements
| Directors of Studies must contact the Programme Administrator or Programme Organiser for Honours Neuroscience before registering a student for this course. Priority is given to Honours Neuroscience students. |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | NEUROSomatMechs |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Richard Ribchester
Tel: (0131 6)50 3256
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Tina Harvey
Tel: (0131 6)51 3094
Email: |
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© Copyright 2012 The University of Edinburgh - 6 March 2012 6:20 am
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