70725 - Nervous Plasticity and Behavior

Academic Year 2023/2024

  • Docente: Roberto Amici
  • Credits: 1
  • SSD: BIO/09
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery (cod. 5904)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will know the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity underlying learning and memory processes and how this plasticity is modulated in sleep and in conditions of torpor and hibernation.

Course contents

Participation in the elective course "THE PLASTIC BRAIN: CONSEQUENCES OF THE MODIFICATION AND POSSIBLE RESTORATION OF THE NERVOUS CIRCUITS" is strongly discouraged for students enrolled in the first year. Full understanding of the topics covered in the course requires knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology of the Nervous System which the student acquires only at the end of the third semester.

1) Synaptic plasticity

2) Learning and memory: basic mechanisms

3) Nervous plasticity and environment

4) Sleep and nervous plasticity

The lessons of the elective course will be held in the second semester, in the period March-May 2024.

The detailed timetable will be published soon.

Readings/Bibliography

Scientific texts and articles for study are suggested during the lessons

Teaching methods

The course consists of 1 CFU, corresponding to 8 hours of frontal teaching. The Course is part of the Integrated Course "THE PLASTIC BRAIN: CONSEQUENCES OF THE MODIFICATION AND POSSIBLE RESTORATION OF THE NERVOUS CIRCUITS" (3CFU). The exam program is covered in its entirety during the course. The iconographic material shown in the lessons is mainly taken from the recommended texts. Otherwise the source is cited.

Assessment methods

The verification test of the "Nervous plasticity and behavior" course is conducted through "true or false" quizzes relating to the topics covered in class. This test is integrated with a similar test relating to the other two disciplines that compete in the Integrated Course "THE PLASTIC BRAIN: CONSEQUENCES OF THE MODIFICATION AND POSSIBLE RESTORATION OF THE NERVOUS CIRCUITS". The final evaluation is overall for the entire Integrated Course.

Teaching tools

The iconographic and textual material used during the lectures is made available to students in electronic format on the website https://iol.unibo.it/. This material, accessible via username and password, is reserved for UNIBO students.

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Amici