Neurobiology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course of Neurobiology is intended to offer an integrated view of the nervous system, from the cellular and molecular basis of neural excitability and synaptic transmission, to the neuronal networks and the complex hierarchical organization of the brain and behavior. The molecular understanding at the cellular level is integrated to higher brain functions such as mechanisms of sensory perception, reflexes and motor function, learning, memory, and biorhythms.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will know the methods, the insights, and the questions of the neurobiology, achieving a theoretical background to study the brain and its pathologies.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
Neurology:
Wiring of the nervous system. Neurogenesis, migration, specificity. Signals from target cells. How 20.000 genes specify 10^14 connections?
When the nerve meets the muscle: architecture, assembly, remodeling, and signaling of the neuromuscular junction. Dysfunction of the neuromuscular junction.
Wiring of the visual system.
Biochemistry:
Functional relevance of glycoconjugates in the physiology and pathology of the nervous system.
Metabolism, traffic and cellular topology of glycoconjugates in neural cells. Glycoconjugates in synaptic function, in neuron-glia communication, in myelin formation and stabilization. Altered glycoconjugates metabolism and functions in neurogenerative and demyelinating diseases.
Applied Biology:
Formation and structure of synapses. Organization of the presynaptic compartment.
Postsynaptic molecular organization: structure and functions of glutamate receptors; protein complexes associated to glutamate receptors.
Dendritic spines: structure, modulation and function.
Mechanisms of synaptic plasticity
Physiology:
Electric signals of the nerve cells. Membrane potential. Excitable membranes and voltage-dependent ion channels. Different kinds of action potentials. Long distance conduction of the nerve impulses. Integrative functions of the neurons.
Sensation. Receptors and receptive fields. Peripheral and central processing of somatic sensation.
Pain perception and analgesia: nociceptors, structures and pathways of nociceptive sensations, hyperalgesia and sensitization, noxious inhibitory system, placebo effect.
Vision. Physiology of the retina, photo transduction, color vision, perception of light intensity and light adaptation, visual acuity. Parallel
Streams of Information from Retina to Cortex, visual field, geniculate neurons, Striate Cortex and Extrastriate Visual Areas, information processing in the cortical neurons, Columnar Organization, binocular convergence, deepness, colors, and pattern recognition.
Movement and hierarchical organization of motor control. Reflexes and automatisms in human. Control of posture. Voluntary movements.
Emotion and limbic system. Hypothalamus and hypophysis.
Formation of cerebral circuits. Modification of the cerebral circuits as a result of experience.
Learning and memory: habituation, sensitization, Classic conditioning and operant conditioning, cellular bases and animal models.
Learning and memory in human.
Sleep-wakefulness rhythms.
Wiring of the nervous system. Neurogenesis, migration, specificity. Signals from target cells. How 20.000 genes specify 10^14 connections?
When the nerve meets the muscle: architecture, assembly, remodeling, and signaling of the neuromuscular junction. Dysfunction of the neuromuscular junction.
Wiring of the visual system.
Biochemistry:
Functional relevance of glycoconjugates in the physiology and pathology of the nervous system.
Metabolism, traffic and cellular topology of glycoconjugates in neural cells. Glycoconjugates in synaptic function, in neuron-glia communication, in myelin formation and stabilization. Altered glycoconjugates metabolism and functions in neurogenerative and demyelinating diseases.
Applied Biology:
Formation and structure of synapses. Organization of the presynaptic compartment.
Postsynaptic molecular organization: structure and functions of glutamate receptors; protein complexes associated to glutamate receptors.
Dendritic spines: structure, modulation and function.
Mechanisms of synaptic plasticity
Physiology:
Electric signals of the nerve cells. Membrane potential. Excitable membranes and voltage-dependent ion channels. Different kinds of action potentials. Long distance conduction of the nerve impulses. Integrative functions of the neurons.
Sensation. Receptors and receptive fields. Peripheral and central processing of somatic sensation.
Pain perception and analgesia: nociceptors, structures and pathways of nociceptive sensations, hyperalgesia and sensitization, noxious inhibitory system, placebo effect.
Vision. Physiology of the retina, photo transduction, color vision, perception of light intensity and light adaptation, visual acuity. Parallel
Streams of Information from Retina to Cortex, visual field, geniculate neurons, Striate Cortex and Extrastriate Visual Areas, information processing in the cortical neurons, Columnar Organization, binocular convergence, deepness, colors, and pattern recognition.
Movement and hierarchical organization of motor control. Reflexes and automatisms in human. Control of posture. Voluntary movements.
Emotion and limbic system. Hypothalamus and hypophysis.
Formation of cerebral circuits. Modification of the cerebral circuits as a result of experience.
Learning and memory: habituation, sensitization, Classic conditioning and operant conditioning, cellular bases and animal models.
Learning and memory in human.
Sleep-wakefulness rhythms.
Prerequisites for admission
Being a first year, first semester exam, there are no specific prerequisites other than those required for admission to the degree course
Teaching methods
Lectures
Teaching Resources
L.Luo PRINCIPLES OF NEUROBIOLOGY Garland Science
Assessment methods and Criteria
Methods (oral test with the teachers of the course);
- type of test (oral questioning)
- evaluation parameters (knowledge acquired, critical reasoning skills on the study carried out; quality of the exposure);
- type of assessment used (rating in thirtieths);
- method of communication: immediate at the end of the test
- type of test (oral questioning)
- evaluation parameters (knowledge acquired, critical reasoning skills on the study carried out; quality of the exposure);
- type of assessment used (rating in thirtieths);
- method of communication: immediate at the end of the test
Applied Biology
BIO/13 - EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY - University credits: 1
Lessons: 7 hours
Professor:
Francolini Maura
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Francolini Maura
Biochemistry
BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY - University credits: 1
Lessons: 7 hours
Professor:
Prinetti Alessandro Ennio Giuseppe
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Prinetti Alessandro Ennio Giuseppe
Neurology
MED/26 - NEUROLOGY - University credits: 1
Lessons: 7 hours
Professor:
Ratti Antonia
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Ratti Antonia
Pysiology
BIO/09 - PHYSIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 21 hours
Professors:
Cerri Gabriella, Fornia Luca
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
Please contact [email protected] to schedule a meeting
Via Vanvitelli, 32 - 20129 Milano Dept. Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine
Reception:
by appointment
LITA Segrate/MS Teams