SYS II: Systemic Neuroscience: Emotion and other higher functions. 1-2,4 Prof. Inga Neumann, UR Zoology Neuroendocrinology of emotions

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1 Lectures SYS II: Systemic Neuroscience: Emotion and other higher functions 1-2,4 Prof. Inga Neumann, UR Zoology Neuroendocrinology of emotions The lectures will start with a repetition of main neuroendocrine systems of the body, i.e. the hypothalamo-adenohypophysial and hypothalamo-neurohypophysial systems with particular focus on the HPA axis and the nonapeptide systems. It will next focus on the neuroanatomy and importance of the limbic system in emotion regulation and its neuroendocrine control. We will further discuss the assessment of emotional behaviors in laboratory animals, the different behavioural tests and the clinical relevance of animal models of pathological socio-emotional behavior. Also, state-to-the-art neurobiological techniques will be introduced to manipulate specific brain target systems in the context of socio-emotional behaviours. 3 Prof. Peter Flor, UR Zoology Neuropharmacology II: Addiction XXX 5 Dr. Michael Lukas, UR Zoology Social Interactions Social interactions between conspecifics are crucial for the well-being, survival, and reproduction of mammals. This lecture will demonstrate several translational models that are used to unravel the neural pathways and substrates involved in normal and abnormal conspecific interactions. This includes social approach behavior, social recognition, interspecific aggression, juvenile play behavior and ultrasonic communication. Notably, this kind of research is not limited to rodents, but to a variety of vertebrates, including birds and fish, emphasizing the importance of the evolutionary and ecological context of social behavior. This will also be illustrated by the species-wide involvement of the evolutionary highly conserved oxytocin and vasopressin system in social interactions. 6 PD Dr. Oliver Bosch, UR Zoology Neuroethology The comparably young discipline of Neuroethology, which dates back to the 1960s, aims to understand the neuronal basis of behaviour. Being part of the larger discipline Behavioural Physiology, in Neuroethology the methods and knowledge from Ethology are combined with the ones from Neurobiology. In this lecture, we will explore the basics of Neuroethology by means of classical as well as up-to-date examples. 7,8 Prof. Mark Greenlee, UR Psychology Hippocampus Memory, Attention XXX 9 Dr. Vanessa Rupprecht, UR Zoology Hippocampus: Place cells, grid cells This lecture will focus on: trisynaptic circuitry in the hippocampus hippocampus as a model system in neurophysiology functions of the hippocampus physiology of the system grid cells as creators of the positioning system in the brain place cells and the cognitive representation of a specific location in space the pathologic hippocampus 10,11 Prof. Björn Brembs, UR Zoology Decisions, Free Will

2 The question of whether or not humans possess Free Will has engaged scholars for millennia. With advances in neuroscience, it was recognized that the question is neuroscientific, rather than philosophical in nature: how do brains make decisions and what does such knowledge mean for our own understanding of ourselves as human beings? We will cover some history of the debate, including relevant physical research with regards to randomness and determinism, recent empirical data and an approach towards a scientific concept of free will. 12 Prof. Thilo Hinterberger, UKR States of Consciousness, Neuronal Correlates Consciousness is a subjective experience. Neuronal models and correlates offer some insight into the functions of consciousness. A variety of levels and states of consciousness is presented and discussed. These include unconscious processes, minimally conscious states, comatose states, sleep states, dream states, waking states, meditative, and higher states of consciousness. Neuronal correlates especially measured in the EEG are presented. Further, methods for detecting cognitive processes in nonresponsive patients are presented.

3 CCN I: Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience: Neuronal cell biology and signalling 1 Draft CCN I: Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience: Neuronal cell biology and signalling Thursday, 8:30-10:00, Room DE (14.4.) Schwarzbach Noninvasive methods for human brain examination (fmri, EEG,...) 2 (21.4.) Greenlee Language and symbolic representation Language and symbolic representation are key cognitive abilities that are unique among homo sapiens. Human language is a symbolic system used to communicate among members of a social group. Language needs to be produced and understood in spoken and written forms. This lecture will examine the neural correlates of higher cognitive functions underlying our ability to produce and comprehend language. We will also consider the neural basis of time perception and numerical processing. Suggesting readings: Purves et al. Neuroscience, 5th Ed. Chapters 20 22, pp (28.4.) Greenlee Higher cognition Executive processes are al higher cognitive functions that direct and regulate processing resources to match task demands. We will examine evidence concerning the neural correlates of executive control processes in prefrontal, parietal and cingulate cortices, as well as in the basal ganglia. Decision making is the process to weigh different options and decide for the optimal one. This process involves the evaluation of expected rewards associated with the different options at hand. Reasoning and problem solving are higher cognitive processes important for survival. The neural basis of these types of cognition will also be examined. Suggested readings: Purves et al. Cognitive Neuroscience (2008), chapters 23 25, pp (12.5.) Beer Multisensory integration The brain encodes information about our environment and our body by distinct sensory systems (visual, auditory, somatosensory, gustatory, olfactory, proprioceptive, vestibular). However, the human brain needs to integrate this sensory information in order to obtain a unified percept of our environment and to perform coordinated actions. This lecture will present some perceptual phenomena associated with multisensory perception and discuss the cortical and subcortical neural mechanisms and recent research relevant for multisensory integration.

4 5 (19.5.) Hinterberger Brain-computer-interfaces Consciousness is a subjective experience. Neuronal models and correlates offer some insight into the functions of consciousness. A variety of levels and states of consciousness is presented and discussed. These include unconscious processes, minimally conscious states, comatose states, sleep states, dream states, waking states, meditative, and higher states of consciousness. Neuronal correlates especially measured in the EEG are presented. Further, methods for detecting cognitive processes in non-responsive patients are presented. 6 (2.6.) Mühlberger Anxiety disorders 7 (9.6.) Nothdurfter Pharmacotherapy in psychiatry Mental disorders are widespread and highly disabling with a considerable socioeconomic impact. Among these, anxiety disorders and major depression belong to the most frequent. There exist different treatment options for such diseases, the use of psychotropic medication thereby playing a very important role in clinical practice. This lecture aims to give an overview of different classes of psychotropic compounds, from antidepressants to neuroleptics. It will give an understanding of principles of pharmacological action, clinical indication, beneficial effects, but also common side-effects and toxicities. 8 (16.6.) Ibach Dementia 9 (23.6.) Langguth Schizophrenia 10 (30.6.) Kudielka / Wüst Human Psychobiological Stress Research: Concepts, Methods and Empirical Findings In this lecture, we focus on concepts and methods in psychobiological stress research in humans. The lecture starts with some conceptual aspects of human stress research. The methods part includes a discussion of psychometric assessment tools for the inquiry of perceived stress and coping behavior in humans. We further present measures of activity as well as reactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis including laboratory stress paradigms as well as ambulatory assessment approaches. Concurrently, the application of human research methods will be illustrated by exemplary empirical evidence. 11 (7.7.) Rupprecht Depression 12. (14.7.) Wetter Sleep disorders Sleep is regulated by several basic mechanisms, and when these systems go wrong, sleep disorders may occur. Interest in sleep disorders was initially found among psychiatrists, psychologists, and neurologists. The past three decades have witnessed discoveries that make sleep medicine truly multidisciplinary. The brain regions and neurotransmitters that regulate sleep are similar to those that regulate mood and cognition, and patients with anxiety and mood disorders often experience disturbed sleep. This lecture provides an overview on the neurobiology of normal sleep, sleep-wake disorders (such as insomnia, hypersomnia, and parasomnias), and methods in clinical sleep research.

5 Topic Lecturer VL Thursday 8:30-10:00 DE Noninvasive methods for human brain examination Schwarzbach (fmri, EEG,...) Language and symbolic representation Greenlee Higher cognition Greenlee holiday Multisensory integration Beer Brain-computer-interfaces Hinterberger Anxiety disorders Mühlberger Pharmacotherapy in psychiatry Nothdurfter Dementia Ibach Schizophrenia Lannguth Psychometry of stress Kudielka/Wüst Depression Rupprecht Sleep disorders Wetter