Neurobiology of Cognition and Behaviour
Code: 42911 ECTS Credits: 9| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4313792 Neurosciences | OB | 0 | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Lidia Gimenez Llort
- Email:
- lidia.gimenez@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject. Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2023.
Teachers
- Laura Aldavert Vera
- Antonio Armario Garcia
- Margalida Coll Andreu
- David Costa Miserachs
- Gemma Guillazo Blanch
- Margarita Marti Nicolovius
- Ignacio Morgado Bernal
- Roser Nadal Alemany
- Marcos Pallarés i Añó
- Isabel Portell Cortés
- Maria del Pilar Segura Torres
- Rafael Torrubia Beltri
- Rosa Maria Escorihuela Agullo
- Ana Maria Vale Martinez
- Meritxell Torras Garcia
- Jordi Ortiz de Pablo
- Lidia Gimenez 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
- Act in one's own field of knowledge evaluating inequalities based on sex/gender.
- 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
- Act in one's own field of knowledge evaluating inequalities based on sex/gender.
- 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
BLOCK 1: SOME BASIC CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES
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. Consolidation and reconsolidation. (2 hours)
Meritxell Torras
4-MEMORY SYSTEMS IN THE BRAIN (I). Explicit memory. Cognitive flexibility. (2 hours)
Anna Vale
5-MEMORY SYSTEMS IN THE BRAIN (II). Working memory. Emergence and maturational changes in implicit and explicit memory systems, and in working memory. (2 hours)
Gemma Guillazo
6-THE EMOTIONAL BRAIN. (2 hours)
Margarita Martí
7-SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY AND MEMORY. (2hours)
David Costa
8-THE ROLE OF SLEEP IN MEMORY CONSOLIDATION. (2 hours)
Isabel Portell
9-WORKSHOP: Practical evaluation of Block 1A (2 Subgroups). (2 hours)
Pilar Segura and Laura Aldavert
BLOCK1B: NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY & NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS
10-NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY & NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS (I). Hormone action mechanisms in the CNS. Neuroendocrine regulation of hypophysiary hormones. (2 hours)
Antonio Armario
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: MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH THE LIFE CYCLE: 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-CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH. Externalizing and internalizing behavior. Early life adversity. (3 hours)
Roser Nadal, Beatriz Molinuevo
16-NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. Basic concepts. Classifications of aggressive behaviors. Animal models of aggression. Neurobiology of aggression. Development of aggressive behavior. Learning, maintenance, and control of aggressive behavior. Proximal causal factors of aggressive behavior Gene-environmental interactions. Causal models of the development of conduct problems. (3 hours)
Beatriz Molinuevo
17-ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR (I). Addictive behavior. Stress and addiction. Individual differences in addictive behavior, and non-pharmacological addictions. Addictive drugs. Molecular basis of addiction. Motivation. (3 hours)
Roser Nadal
18-ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR (II). Definition of addiction, toleranceand dependence. Role of animal models to study addiction. Neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of cerebral circuits of addictive behavior. (3 hours)
Jordi Ortiz
19-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
20-NEUROBIOLOGY OF DEPRESSION AND AFFECTIVE DISORDERS. Definition of depression. Stress and depression. Essential neurobiology and neuropharmacology of depressive disorders. Basic research with animal models. Main depressive disorders. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. (3 hours)
Antonio Armario
21-NEUROBIOLOGY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA. Definition of schizophrenia. Essential neurobiology and neuropharmacology of schizophrenia. Basic research with animal models. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. (3 hours)
Alberto Fernández Teruel
22-THE AGING BRAIN (I). Health aging. Sensory, motor, cognitive, emotional and social function in the older people. Age-related cognitive and functional decline (under GDS, cultural and gender perspectives). (2 hours)
Lydia Giménez Llort
23- THE AGING BRAIN (II). Pathological aging: Clinical and translational research in neurodegenerative diseases (Dementia, Parkinson, Huntington Corea) and Accelarated aging. (2 hours)
Lydia Giménez Llort
Methodology
Master classes / expositions.
Discussion of some cases and / or scientific articles and experimental designs.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Clases magistrales | 50 | 2 | 8, 9, 3, 4, 5, 6, 2, 7, 10 |
| Workshop | 2 | 0.08 | 8, 3, 5, 2, 7, 10 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Actividades autónomas | 167 | 6.68 | 8, 5, 2, 10 |
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).
Students will have a second opportunity to take an examination of any part of the parts that they have failed, in a final recovery exam.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical evaluation (1st part)- Ejercicio práctico evaluativo (1a parte) | 15 | 2 | 0.08 | 8, 9, 4, 5, 2, 7, 10 |
| Theoretical exam- 1st part / Examen Teórico (1a parte) | 35 | 2 | 0.08 | 8, 3, 5, 2, 7, 10 |
| Theoretical exam-2nd part / Examen teórico (2a parte) | 50 | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 8, 9, 3, 4, 5, 6, 2, 7, 10 |
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
Software
No specific programs are needed