Neurobiology of Cognition and Behaviour
Code: 42911 ECTS Credits: 9| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4313792 Neurosciences | OB | 0 | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Lydia Giménez Llort
- Email:
- Lidia.Gimenez@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- spanish (spa)
Teachers
- Laura Aldavert Vera
- Antonio Armario García
- Margalida Coll Andreu
- David Costa Miserachs
- Gemma Guillazo Blanch
- Margarita Martí Nicolovius
- Ignacio Morgado Bernal
- Roser Nadal Alemany
- Marcos Pallarés Anyo
- Isabel Portell Cortés
- María del Pilar Segura Torres
- Rafael Torrubia Beltri
- Rosa Maria Escorihuela Agulló
- Anna Vale Martínez
- Meritxell Torras García
- Jordi Ortiz de Pablo
- Lydia Giménez Llort
- Beatriz Molinuevo Alonso
Prerequisites
None special, except those established by the Master of Neurosciences.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The subject explores the brain, the central nervous system and its interaction with neuroendocrine and immune systems, always in relation to complex psychological processes, such as emotions, stress and the multiple aspects of cognitive functions. The neurobiology (and Neurogenetics) of the main psychopathologies (psychiatric pathologies) and brain aging are also studied, with emphasis on basic research in both laboratory and human animals, and in the translation of this research to the clinic.
Competences
- Conceive, design, develop and synthesise scientific projects in the field of neurosciences.
- Continue the learning process, to a large extent autonomously
- Explain the basis of treatments for pathologies of the nervous system.
- Identify and use the techniques for studying the neurobiological substrate of behaviour, neurodegenerative processes, neuroprotective strategies and strategies of plasticity of the nervous system.
- Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.
Learning Outcomes
- Continue the learning process, to a large extent autonomously
- Describe the evolutionary, neural and molecular mechanisms of emotions, learning and memory.
- Describe the psychoneuroendocrine bases of psychopathology.
- Develop a deep sense of responsibility and respect for those affected by diseases of the nervous system and their families.
- Explain the cellular and molecular bases of addictive behaviours.
- Recognise the degree and nature of the genetic and environmental contribution to both normal and pathological behaviour.
- Seek out information in the scientific literature using appropriate channels, and use this information to formulate and contextualise a research topic.
- Understand the effect of behaviour on the immune system.
- Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.
Content
CONTENTS “NEUROBIOLOGY OF COGNITION AND BEHAVIOR” “*Unless the requirements enforced by the health authorities demand a prioritization or reduction of these contents.”
BLOCK 1
BLOCK 1A: LEARNING & MEMORY
1-LEARNING PROCESSES (I). Non-associative learning. Associative learning: Apetitive and Aversive Classical conditioning. Neurobiology of some forms of classical conditioning. (2 hours)
Alberto Fernández Teruel
2-LEARNING PROCESSES (II). Associative learning: Instrumental conditioning. Spatial and other forms of learning. Neurobiology of some forms of instrumental conditioning and spatial learning. (2 hours)
Alberto Fernández Teruel
3- MEMORY PROCESSES AND TEMPORAL DYNAMICS. Encoding, consolidation, reconsolidation, forgetting. (2 hours)
Meritxell Torras
4- MEMORY SYSTEMS IN THE BRAIN (I). Implicit and explicit memories. Working memory (2 hours)
Anna Vale
5- MEMORY SYSTEMS IN THE BRAIN (II). Implicit and explicit memories. Working memory. (2 hours)
Laura Aldavert
6- SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY AND MEMORY. (2hours)
David Costa
7- MEMORY MODULATION: EMOTIONS AND MOTIVATION (2 hours)
Margarita Martí
8-MEMORY MODULATION: SLEEP AND AROUSAL. (2 hours)
Isabel Portell
9-WORKSHOP: practical evaluation of Block 1A (2 Subgroups). (2 hours)
Pilar Segura and Margalida Coll
BLOCK 1B: NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY & NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS
10-NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY & NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS (I). Hormone action mechanisms in the CNS. Neuroendocrine regulation of hypophysiary hormones. (2 hours)
Juan Hidalgo
11- NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY & NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS(II). Neurosteroids. (2 hours)
Marc Pallarés
12- NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY & NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS (III). Neurobiology of stress: Concepts, types and physiological markers. Processing stressing stimuli in CNS: Chronic stress and adaptation. Stress and pathological processes . (2 hours)
Antonio Armario
BLOCK 1C: NEUROBIOLOGY OF CONCIOUSNESS
13-NEUROBIOLOGY OF CONCIOUSNESS. Nature and basic concepts. Neural mechanisms of consciousness. ( 2 hours)
Ignacio Morgado
BLOCK 2
BLOCK 2: MENTAL DISORDERS AND BRAIN AGING: FROM BASIC RESEARCH TO HUMAN SUFFERING
14-ANIMAL MODELS IN NEUROSCIENCE AND PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH. Overview on animal models of neuro-psychopathology. Validity criteria. Representative examples. (2 hours)
Rosa Mª Escorihuela
15. ANXIETY AND ITS DISORDERS. Definition of anxiety and fear. Essential neurobiology and neuropharmacology of anxiety and fear. Basic research with animal models. Main anxiety disorders. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. (2 hours )
Rosa Mª Escorihuela
16-NEUROBIOLOGY OF DEPRESSION AND AFFECTIVE DISORDERS (I). Definition of depression. Stress and depression. Essential neurobiology and neuropharmacology of depressive disorders. (2 hours)
Antonio Armario
17-NEUROBIOLOGY OF DEPRESSION AND AFFECTIVE DISORDERS (II). Basic research with animal models. Main depressive disorders. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. (2 hours)
Antonio Armario
18- NEUROBIOLOGY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA (I). Definition of schizophrenia. Essential neurobiology and neuropharmacology of schizophrenia. (2 hours)
Alberto Fernández Teruel
19- NEUROBIOLOGY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA (II) Basic research with animal models. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. (2 hours)
Alberto Fernández Teruel
20-ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR (I). Motivation. Definition of addiction, tolerance and dependence. Role of animal models to study addiction. (2 hours)
Jordi Ortiz
21-ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR (II) Neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of cerebral circuits of addictive behaviour. Addictive drugs.(2 hours)
Jordi Ortiz, Roser Nadal
22-ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR (III) Stress and addiction. Individual differences in addictive behaviour. Non pharmacological addictions. (2 hours)
Roser Nadal
23-NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR (I). Basic concepts. Classifications of agressive behaviours. Development of agressive behaviour. Basic research and animal models. Learning, maintenance and control of agressive behaviour. (2 hours)
Beatriz Molinuevo
24-NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR (II). Triggers of agressive behaviour. Nature and upbringing. Neurobiology of agressive behaviour. Psychiatric disorders and violence. (2 hours)
Rafael Torrubia
25- THE AGING BRAIN (I). Health aging and age-related cognitive and functional decline. (2 hours)
Lydia Giménez
26- THE AGING BRAIN (II). Pathological aging: Sensory, motor, cognitive, emotional and social impairments in the elderly. Clinical and translational research in neurodegenerative diseases (Dementia, Parkinson, Huntington Corea) and Accelarated aging (2 hours)
Lydia Giménez
Methodology
Master classes / expositions.
Discussion of some cases and / or scientific articles and experimental designs.
“*The proposed teaching methodology may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.”
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Clases magistrales | 50 | 2 | 7, 8, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 6, 9 |
| Workshop | 2 | 0.08 | 7, 2, 4, 1, 6, 9 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Actividades autónomas | 167 | 6.68 | 7, 4, 1, 9 |
Assessment
To pass this module it will be necessary to get at least a 5.0 / 10.0 mark after averaging the mark of both blocks.
In order to be able to calculate this average it will be necessary to get a minimum of 4.0 both in BLOCK 1 (Theoretical exam 1st parte + Practical evaluation) and in BLOCK 2 (Theoretical exam 2nd parte).
The students will have a second opportunity to pass the module by undertaking final exam including the contents of the whole module.
Student’s assessment may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical evaluation (1st part)- Ejercicio práctico evaluativo (1a parte) | 15 | 2 | 0.08 | 7, 8, 3, 4, 1, 6, 9 |
| Theoretical exam- 1st part / Examen Teórico (1a parte) | 35 | 2 | 0.08 | 7, 2, 4, 1, 6, 9 |
| Theoretical exam-2nd part / Examen teórico (2a parte) | 50 | 2 | 0.08 | 7, 8, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 6, 9 |
Bibliography
GENERAL
Bear, M.F., Connors, B. i Paradiso, M. (2008) Neurociencia: la exploración del cerebro (3ª edició). Barcelona: Wolters Kluwer.
NR Carlson "Fisiologia de la Conducta", (8 Ed.) Barcelona: Ariel, 2005.
Kandel E. (2012) Principles of neural science. 5th ed. Ed. McGraw Hill.
MR Rosenzweig, AL Leiman y SM Breedlove, Psicobiologia, Barcelona: Ariel, 2005.
Squire LR, Bloom FE, Spitzer NC, Du Lac S, Ghosh A and Berg D (Eds)
"Fundamental Neuroscience" (3rd. Edit), New York Elsevier, 2008.
Stahl SM. Psicofarmacología esencial. Bases neurocietíficas y aplicaciones clínicas. Barcelona: Ariel. 2002.
Vallejo Ruiloba J, Leal Pérez C. Tratado de Psiquiatría (Volúmenes I y II). Barcelona: Ars Médica, 2010.
ESPECÍFICA
A Fernández-Teruel "Farmacología de la conducta: De los psicofármacos a las psicoterapias", Bellaterra: Servei de Publicacions de la UAB, 2008.
Ch. Koch "The quest for consciousness: a neurobiological approach", Colorado: Roberts and Co, 2004 (Ed.
española. Barcelona: Ariel).
GF Koob and ML LeMoal, "Neurobiology of addiction", New York: Academic Press, 2005
Morgado Bernal, I. (2007) Emociones e inteligencia social: las claves para una alianza entre los sentimientos y la razón. Barcelona: Ariel.
Morgado-Bernal, I: (2014) Aprender, recordar y olvidar: Claves cerebrales de la memoria y la educación. Barcelona: Ariel.
ET Rolls ET "Emotions explained", New York: Oxford University Press., 2005.
Sandi C, venero C, Cordero MI. Estrés, Memoria y trastornos asociados. Implicaciones para el daño cerebral y el envejecimiento. Barcelona: Ariel. 2001.
A Tobeña "Anatomia de la agresividad humana", Barcelona: Galaxia Gutenberg, 2001.
More specific bibliography on the different sessions / topics of this subject will be indicated by the respective professors and teachers at the time