Neurobiology

A.A. 2024/2025
6
Crediti massimi
42
Ore totali
SSD
BIO/09 BIO/10 BIO/13 MED/26
Lingua
Inglese
Obiettivi formativi
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.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
Students will know the methods, the insights, and the questions of the neurobiology, achieving a theoretical background to study the brain and its pathologies.
Corso singolo

Questo insegnamento può essere seguito come corso singolo.

Programma e organizzazione didattica

Edizione unica

Periodo
Terzo trimestre

Programma
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.
Prerequisiti
Being a first year, first semester exam, there are no specific prerequisites other than those required for admission to the degree course
Metodi didattici
Lectures
Materiale di riferimento
L.Luo PRINCIPLES OF NEUROBIOLOGY Garland Science
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
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
Moduli o unità didattiche
Applied Biology
BIO/13 - BIOLOGIA APPLICATA - CFU: 1
Lezioni: 7 ore
Turni:
Turno
Docente: Francolini Maura

Biochemistry
BIO/10 - BIOCHIMICA - CFU: 1
Lezioni: 7 ore
Turni:

Neurology
MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA - CFU: 1
Lezioni: 7 ore
Docente: Ratti Antonia
Turni:
Turno
Docente: Ratti Antonia

Pysiology
BIO/09 - FISIOLOGIA - CFU: 3
Lezioni: 21 ore
Turni:
Turno
Docenti: Cerri Gabriella, Fornia Luca

Docente/i
Ricevimento:
previo appuntamento da concordare via e-mail
Ricevimento:
per appuntamento - contattare [email protected]
Via Vanvitelli, 32 - 20129 Milano Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale
Ricevimento:
su appuntamento
LITA Segrate/MS Teams
Ricevimento:
previo appuntamento da concordare via e-mail o telefonicamente
Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Zucchi, 18 - 20095 Cusano Milanino (Mi)