Syllabus

Short Course Description

The course will described the organization and structure of the nervous system - central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), peripheral nervous system (somatic and autonomic nervous system); Parts and function. Formation of the peripheral nervous system from neural crest cells.The course will give introduction to cellular structure and biology of neurons, glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia - structure, function and interactions). During the course we will discuss different diseases of the nervous system-mechanisms and possibility of treatment; such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, diseases and psychiatric illnesses. Other subjects that will be covered by the course are: Neuronal cell communication: electrical synapse, chemical synapse, synaptic release: From cell to network: example from the visual system: structure, wiring, providing examples of various topics from the course: neural networks for creating a receptive field, identifying the direction of movement on inhibition and excitation and creating patterns, plasticity.