516-305 Structure & Function of the Brain

Anatomy 516-209.

BBiomedSc students: 521-213 and 536-250.

By the end of the subject the student should:

• comprehend the terminology of neuroscience, the principles and essential information regarding the structure and functional components of the nervous system including their organisation and major connections, the correlation of structure with function including behaviour, and the major effects of lesions to clinically important areas and pathways; and

• appreciate the extent and limitations of current knowledge of the organisation of the nervous system, particularly in the context of recent profound advances in neuroscience.

The following topics will be considered: the structure and function of the main sensory systems (including vision, hearing and touch) and the motor systems; complex functions such as thought, emotion, motivation, memory and the disorders of thought and mood.

Students will acquire an understanding of the major questions in neuroscience and the experimental tools that are being used to address them; develop written communication skills; an ability to critically analyse scientific papers; and a capacity for independent critical thought, rational enquiry and self-directed learning.

A critical review of a scientific paper (15%), a test during the semester (10%), and a 2-hour end-of-semester written examination (75%)

• Kandel, Schwartz and Jessell, Principles of Neural Science. 4th edn.

• J Nolte, J B Angerine, The Human Brain in Photographs and Diagrams.