Entry requirements

Admitted to the programme. The education follows a course of studies, which implies that the courses should be taken in an established order.

Learning outcomes

The course should prepare the student for the continued preclinical and the clinical training by giving basic knowledge about functions of the nervous system and their cellular basis.

Aims of the course

After the course, the student should:

- understand the extent of diseases in the nervous system and their importance in an individual and community perspective

- understand the fundamental basis for the functions of the nervous system (”input-output”)

- be able to account for the general functions of the brain and its macroscopic anatomy

- be able to account for the cells of the nerve tissue and how neural networks are built-up

- be able to account for and understand cellular mechanisms for the origin and propagation of nerve impulses as well as their transmission and transfer in neural networks

- understand how changed structure and activity in neural networks can lead to new brain functions.

Content

The main topics are:

The fundamental organisation of the nervous system: Networks and conduction pathways

Sensory functions

Emotions and motor functions

Language

Memory and learning

The macroscopic anatomy of the brain

The microscopical anatomy of the nervous system

Structural and functional basis for the propagation of the nerve impulse and the functions of synapses

Instruction

The course is given in the form of case seminars, lectures, laboratory sessions and demonstrations.

Assessment

For regulatory framework about absence from compulsory parts and rules for participation in examination, see programme syllabus in the students' guide.

For a Pass grade in the course, all case seminars, demonstrations and laboratory sessions should have been carried out satisfactorily and approved examination. Examination takes place in connection with group seminars, and in the form of tests on knowledge in the macroscopic and microscopical anatomy of the brain. Final examination takes place in the form of written integrated test for the blocks that are taught during semester 1.

Students which have not passed the examination have the right to take the examination 4 additional times (= total 5 examinations). If special circumstances apply, the programme committee may admit additional examinations. Every time the student participates in an examination counts. Submission of so called blank exam is counted as an examination.