BB851: : Behavioral Neuroscience

Study Board of Science

Teaching language: English, Danish or English depending on the teacher
EKA: N110039112, N110039102
Assessment: Second examiner
Grading: Pass/Fail
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Master

STADS ID (UVA): N110039101
ECTS value: 5

Date of Approval: 12-05-2020


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Archive

Comment

Limited seats
The course has limited seats and in case of too many applications, priority is given to the timely registration by date of registration.
The course has limited entry. The following criterias are taken into consideration when seats are assigned: 

1. Students with the most ECTS from their master, priority after grade average score
2. Students who are accepted conditionally on the master
3. Students who follows master courses concurrent with their bachelor programme
4. BSc students

If the score is even lots are drawn.
The academic enviroments at The faculty of Science manages the prioritisation and at waiting list is established and will then be
made aware from the faculty. The waiting list will not be transferred to the following year.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements. The curriculum from a bachelor in biology, psychology, engineering or similar must be known.

Academic preconditions

None

Participant limit

20

Course introduction

The aim of this course is to give an overview of the field of Behavioral Neuroscience and introduce the major experimental techniques and animal model systems in Behavioral Neuroscience. Students will apply modern measurement and data-analysis methods to quantify behaviour of animals and the nervous system. 

The course gives an academic basis for studying animal behaviour, biorobotics and behavioural neuroscience, both in animal experiments and using modelling approaches.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:
  • Provide competences to apply quantitative analysis of complex data.
  • Provide the competence to plan and control work and development of projects, to initiate and succeed in professional collaboration and to be responsible for own professional development and specialization
  • Provide skills in planning and conducting independent research projects using techniques in behavioral neuroscience research, critical review of the literature, written and oral communication of biological research.
  • Provide knowledge and understanding of fundamental and recent topics within the field of behavioural neuroscience.

Expected learning outcome

The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

  • Design and conduct (electrophysiological and) behavioral experiments.
  • Be able to describe the experiments and results in a satisfactory academic language.
  • Analyze activity in real and simulated neural networks
  • Understand basic mechanisms underlying sensorimotor learning and decision making.
  • Plan, conduct and report an independent project containing laboratory work.

Content

The following main topics are contained in the course:

  • The invertebrate and vertebrate nervous system
  • The function and evolution of the brain
  • Elemental functions of real neural networks function, e.g. Central Pattern Generators
  • How the brain and body interact to drive behavior
  • Sensorimotor integration and decision making
  • Effect of drugs on behavior. Psychopharmacology.
  • Quantitative analysis of complex data.
  • Experimental labs that will be presented as a poster session

Literature

See Blackboard for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Prerequisites for participating in the exam a)

Timing

Autumn

Tests

Participation in laboratory exercises

EKA

N110039112

Assessment

Second examiner

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course.

ECTS value

0

Additional information

The prerequisite examination : 100 % participation in lab exercises 

The prerequisite examination is a prerequisite for participation in exam element a)


Exam element a)

Timing

Autumn

Prerequisites

Type Prerequisite name Prerequisite course
Examination part Prerequisites for participating in the exam a) N110039101, BB851: : Behavioral Neuroscience

Tests

Written report based on lab exercises

EKA

N110039102

Assessment

Second examiner

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course.

ECTS value

5

Additional information

The examination form for re-examination may be different from the exam form at the regular exam.

Indicative number of lessons

50 hours per semester

Teaching Method

The teaching method is based on three phase model.
  • Intro phase: 10 hours
  • Skills training phase: 40 hours, hereof project: 16 hours and laboratory exercises: 24 hours
Activities during the study phase:
  • Reading scientific articles
  • Critical reflection / commentary
  • Preparation for plenum presentation 

The course takes place at SDU and contains lectures and several day-long laboratory exercises. Each group will present their experiment, analysis and conclusions in a poster session.

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Coen Elemans coen@biology.sdu.dk Biologisk Institut

Additional teachers

Name E-mail Department City
Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard jcd@biology.sdu.dk Biologisk Institut

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Biologisk Institut

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile Education Semester Offer period