https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/AB_1200Upon successful completion of this course the student: Can describe how the brain is built up and how different brain-regions work together, and how complex nervous systems have evolved.Is able to explain how electric signals are generated in nerve cells and how these travel along the axon.Can apply how synaptic transmission works.Is able to explain how drugs or poisons affect neurotransmission.Is able to explain the processing of the somatosensory system and how the nervous system interacts with the endocrine system.Is able to explain the importance of neuron-glia interactions for brain function.Can explain which brain regions are involved in the occurrence of speech or language deficits in patients. Is able to explain how the senses (sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch) transmit information from your surroundings to your brain.Have you always wondered how your brain actually works? How cells can pass on information and how you actually register that food is salty or sweet? These questions, and many more, will be covered in the course Neuroscience. The course Neurosciences is divided in three main themes: neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and the brain as part of the organism. You will learn about these themes of the brain through lectures, practicals and a homework assignment. 1: Neuroanatomy Here you will learn about various different parts of the central and peripheral nervous system. This part consists of lectures, a homework assignment where you work with a digital atlas of the human brain and a practical in which you will work with human brain specimens. Finally, you can test your knowledge in a "power-repeat" quiz-based lecture. 2: Neurophysiology In this part we will study brain function on the cellular level, how neurons transmit information. You will learn how fundamental ions like sodium and potassium carry much of our highly complex thoughts and emotions and you will learn how signals between cells can be transmitted and modulated. Furthermore, you will record real action potentials from the axon of a worm and here you can also test your knowledge in a quiz-based "power-repeat". 3. Brain as part of the organism The third part zooms out and couples brain function to everyday functions such as speaking, seeing, feeling pain or stress. You will learn in different lectures how the cellular principles of brain function underlie complex behaviour that you experience everywhere around you.Lectures: 33 hours Practicals: 5 hours Homework assignments: 4 hours Self-study: 126 hoursExam: digital multiple choice test (100% of final grade). Grade needs to be over 5.5 to pass this course. Active participation in the practicals and timely handing in of completed homework assignments are mandatory, and need be completed to sufficient standard to receive a final grade. When you are ill or unable to make it, send and e-mail to
[email protected] before the mandatory session or assignment deadline.Neuroscience, International 6th edition by Purves et al. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 97816053584132nd year BSc students of Biomedical Sciences and Biology.Standard registration through VUnet.All communication, including the organisation of the practicals, will be handled through Canvas.