MCN I: Basic Neuroscience: Anatomy, development, plasticity

Transcription

1 Lectures MCN I: Basic Neuroscience: Anatomy, development, plasticity 1-5 Prof. Ernst Tamm, UR Anatomy Neuroanatomy The studies of neuroanatomy provide the basic knowledge for understanding the different fields of neuroscience. This lecture will start with reviewing the developmental formation of the central nervous system and possible failures of that. Beside the development of the brain and the spinal cord, the students will learn about the formation of the neural crest and its derivatives. Next, the functional macroscopic organization of the central nervous system will be discussed in detail. Consequently, the students will gain first understanding of the principles of learning, the signal conduction of our sensory organs, the organization of the motoric system and the limbic system. 6-8 Prof. Stephan Schneuwly, UR Zoology Development These three lectures will focus on the development of the nervous system. We will start by discussing neural induction, the actual beginning of the developing nervous system and then move on to the patterning process which explains how a nervous system is divided into different substructures, how neuronal cells are determined and differentiate and finally how proper connections of neurons are formed using mechanisms of axonal guidance/pathfinding. The lectures will also introduce different model systems like Drosophila, chicken and mouse and how they are used to answer important questions of how such a complex structure like a brain is formed. 9 PD Dr. Beate Winner, FAU Erlangen Neuronal Stem Cells There are different model systems to investigate neural stem cells. Much of the current knowledge is derived from rodent models. Specifically, the phenomenon of adult neurogenesis (the presence of neural stem cells in the adult brain) has led to intensive studies about neural stem cells and their progeny, and the different steps of neural development, including proliferation, migration, differentiation and integration of new neurons. In addition, human models for neural stem cells, derived from human embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells will be introduced and discussed in the context of disease modeling for neurodegenerative diseases Prof. Björn Brembs, UR Zoology Insect Neuroanatomy; Learning and Plasticity across Nervous Systems The focus will be on the fruit fly Drosophila and to a lesser extent on other invertebrates such as the marine snail Aplysia or the medicinal leech. We will cover the major neuropil areas in the insect nervous system and some basic sensory processing in the visual and the olfactory modality. Central to these lectures are various behavioural experiments for simple forms of conditioning and learning, such as operant and classical conditioning. Different forms of neuronal and synaptic plasticity underlying these forms of learning will be explored at the cellular, molecular and physiological level in different nervous systems. 13 Prof. Mark Greenlee, UR Psychology Cortical Plasticity This lecture will focus on the neural basis of modification of neural circuits as a result of experience. What makes each individual unique is a combination of genetic and environmental influences on the developing nervous system. Synaptic connectivity between neurons is dynamic and mechanisms can alter synaptic efficacy within

2 milliseconds, seconds and minutes and these effects can last a lifetime. Long-term potentiation and long-term depression are important forms on cortical plasticity and provide us with a neural basis for learning and memory. The precise timing of pre- and postsynaptic activity determines the polarity of synaptic modification, a process known as spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP). We will take the mammalian visual system as a model of experience-induced changes in the visual cortex depending on early patterns of input from each eye. Suggested reading: Purves, D. et al. (2012) Neuroscience, 5 th Ed. Chapters 8 (Synaptic plasticity) and 24 (Modifications of neural circuits as a results of experience). MCN II: Basic Neuroscience: Neuronal cell biology and signalling 1 Prof. Veronica Egger, UR Zoology History of neuroscience and building blocks of the nervous system This lecture will describe the origins of neuroscience, beginning with ancient Egypt and Greece, via the Renaissance and the phrenologists to the beginnings of psychiatric and cellular neuroscience. Here, we will closer investigate the problem of how to classify neuronal subtypes and describe the basic types of glia cells. 2,3 Prof. Stephan Schneuwly, UR Zoology Signalling I: Receptors/Molecules These lectures will introduce the concept of how cells communicate to each other and how signals are transmitted across cell membranes. We will start discussing general concepts and mechanisms of cell signaling and then focus, step by step, different ways of cell signaling, including G-Protein coupled receptor signaling and different pathways of hormonal and morphogen induced signaling. The lectures should enable you to recognize any type if signaling pathway involved in the development or physiology of the nervous system, which will be introduced in later topics in Molecular and Systemic Neurosciences. 4 Prof. Christian Wetzel, UR Psychiatry Electrical Signals in Neurons I This lecture will give insight into the basic mechanisms of electrical signalling in excitable cells: Nernst equation, resting membrane potential, action potential, electrotonic spread, and active propagation. Principles of electrophysiological recording will be presented (voltage-clamp, patch-clamp). 5 Prof. Christian Wetzel, UR Psychiatry Ion channels, GPCR signalling This lecture will provide an overview of the molecular biology and function of ion channels, and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), neurotransmitters and their receptors, signaling pathways, and synaptic transmission. 6 Prof. Peter Flor, UR Zoology Neuropharmacology This lecture will start with basic concepts and techniques in the field of neuropharmacology. Next, it will be explained how new psychoactive drugs can be discovered in industry and academia. The lecture will discuss the main neurotransmitter systems where CNS-drugs exert their activities (mainly GABA-, L-glutamate- and monoamine transmitter-systems). The mechanism and activity of important and clinically useful psychiatric and neurological drugs will be explained.

3 7 Prof. Christian Wetzel, UR Psychiatry Methods: How to study functional activity of neurons and signalling pathways? This lecture will cover methods and technical aspects of how to study physiological function of ion channel and receptor proteins, as well as signaling pathways will be presented (electrophysiology, imaging of ion concentrations, membrane potential, metabolic activity, FRET). 8, 9 Prof. Veronica Egger, UR Zoology Electrical Signals in Neurons II These lectures will review the basics of electrical nervous activity in physical terms, including a derivation of the Nernst potential and its contribution to the resting membrane potential and postsynaptic potentials, and the Hodgkin-Huxley model of action potential generation. We will also describe spread and integration of electrical signals in axons and dendrites, with special emphasis on dendritic spines, and apply these principles to the generation of network phenomena and the integration of coincident synaptic signals. Finally, the importance of such mechanisms for the induction of neuronal plasticity will be highlighted, using various examples. 10, 11 Dr. Barbara Di Benedetto, UR Psychiatry Neuron-Glia-Interaction The lectures will focus on: developmental origin of glia cells classification and properties of different types of glia cells roles of glia cells in the nervous system: central and peripheral functional properties of glia cells relevant for their interactions with neurons relevance of glia cells for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders pharmacology of neuron-glia interactions methodological approaches to study neuronglia interactions in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo 12, 13 Prof. Eugen Kerkhoff, UR Neurology Transport, Cytoskeleton The interconnected neurons of the nervous system are among the structurally most sophisticated cells of the animal kingdom. To estabilish the morphology and polarity of a neuron, cytoskeletal proteins and their regulators, as well as the cellular transport machinery play an essential role. The first lecture will focus on the dynamic actin cytoskeleton in general and will introduce specific functions of the actin cytoskeleton in neurons. The second lecture will focus on the vesicle transport machinery including the myosin and kinesin motor protein families and their functions in neuronal signalling.

4 SYS I: Sensory and Motor Systems 1 Prof. Björn Brembs, UR Zoology Organization of Behaviour Neuroscience is currently undergoing a major conceptual transition. The traditional, passive concept of the brain transforming sensory inputs into motor outputs is rapidly losing traction, in favor of a more active role of the brain with external stimuli playing merely a modulatory effect. Accumulating evidence points towards a general organization of brain function that incorporates flexible decision-making on the basis of complex computations negotiating internal and external processing. The adaptive value of such an organization consists of being unpredictable for competitors, prey or predators, as well as being able to explore the hidden resource deterministic automats would never find. At the same time, this organization allows all animals to respond efficiently with tried-and-tested behaviours to predictable and reliable stimuli. 2 Prof. Veronica Egger, UR Zoology Basic Principles of Sensory Neuroscience Many principles of coding apply across several sensory modalities. The lecture will cover: the qualia problem transduction, transformation sensor types receptive fields and sensory mapping basic psychophysics. 3, 4 Prof. Antje Grosche, UKR Human Genetics Vision More than 2000 years ago Aristoteles already placed the visual sense above all other senses arguing that this is the sense the gives us most direct information about our environment. The lectures will provide insight into the fascinating mechanisms in the vertebrate visual system that enable transduction of light information into electrochemical response patterns in the brain including: the anatomy of the retina in different species including adaptations to functional needs the process of phototransduction and first signal integration within the retina information processing in the visual cortex discuss why the eye is a good research object to study mechanisms of neurodegeneration and develop innovative therapeutic strategies. 5, 6 Prof. Otto Gleich, UKR Otolaryngology Audition These lectures will cover: Outer ear: function Middle ear: evolution and function Inner ear: mammalian cochlea, travelling wave and tonotopy, cochlear anatomy, mechanoelectrical transduction, cochlear amplifier, outer hair cell function, otoacoustic emissions ion homeostasis, endocochlear potential, afferent innervation, auditory nerve activity, evoked cochlear potentials Ascending auditory pathway Acoustic feature analysis, parallel pathways, binaural sound localization Clinical: The audiogram, thresholds for pure tones, conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, damage and loss of hair cells, loss of spiral ganglion cells, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders, temporary threshold shift, loss of endocochlear potential, hearing aid and cochlear implant Animal psychoacoustics 7 Prof. Angelika Lampert, RWTH Aachen Pain Pain is a complex experience that can be caused by multiple stimuli. One of these causes is peripheral nociception due to stimulation of specialized receptors (free nerve endings). The lecture will cover: nerve fibers involved in nociception receptor channels on nociceptors sodium channels and inherited pain syndromes peripheral and central sensitization central pain pathways, central pain descending pain inhibiting pathways selected clinical pain phenomena and their (patho-)physiological correlates

5 8 Prof. Christian Wetzel, UR Psychiatry Olfaction, Taste: Transduction The lecture will cover olfactory coding, in particular within the nose(s) and tongue: olfactory receptors signal transduction Grüneberg ganglion vomeronasal system trigeminal innervation of the nose TRP channels taste receptors and transduction 9 Prof. Veronica Egger, UR Zoology Olfaction, Taste: Processing The lecture will cover olfactory coding, mostly beyond the nose: anatomy and physiology of the vertebrate olfactory bulb olfactory mapping higher olfactory processing social odor sensing insect olfaction higher gustatory processing clinical aspects 10,11 Prof. Mark Greenlee, UR Psychology Motor: Cortex, Basal Ganglia These two lectures will focus on the neural circuits that produce the spatial and temporal patterns of activation that control muscle contraction and relaxation. Lower motor units in the spinal cord form spatial synapses with muscle fibers. Sensory signals arising in muscle spindles provide feedback regarding the contractile state of the muscle fiber being activated. Axons of upper motor neurons project into the brainstem and cord to influence the activity of these local circuits. Different centers in the brainstem control locomotion, body posture and position, eye position and eye movements, as well as voluntary skilled actions. The basal ganglia are deep brain centers that influence activity in the upper motor neurons. We will discuss how activity in the basal ganglia influences motor behavior in healthy persons and in patients of basal ganglia pathologies. Suggested reading: Purves, D. et al. (2012) Neuroscience, 5 th Ed. Chapters 16 (Lower motor neuron circuits and motor control), 17 (Upper motor neuron control of the brainstem and spinal cord) and 18 (Modulation of movement by the basal ganglia). 12 PD Dieter Kutz, LMU München Motor: Cerebellum The lecture will cover: anatomy and physiology of the cerebellum planning and co-ordination of movements adaptive learning of movements associative learning of movements LTD and motor learning clinical aspects 13 Dr. Vanessa Rupprecht, UR Zoology Thalamus The thalamus is not simply a relay of sensory information. It is strongly reciprocally connected with the cerebral cortex and actively regulates information transfer to and from cortical areas by various mechanisms. The lecture will focus on the organization of the thalamus (in humans and rodents) and the sensory modalities represented in that system. We will take a closer look at the steps of sensory information transfer (from perception of stimuli to processing to higher cortical regions) and we want to explore how thalamic neurons provide a state-dependent gating of sensory information patterns during sleep and wakefulness. In addition, we will briefly talk about multisensory processing and the consequences of thalamic deficits.