Master’s Degree Programme in Neuroscience (MNEURO)
Contents 1) Theory: Electricity, concepts and principles; properties of preparations,
microelectrodes and amplifiers; equivalent circuit representation; accuracy and sources of error in microelectrode measurements;
single and two microelectrode current and voltage clamp techniques; other microelectrode techniques; mechanisms of noise coupling and means for noise reduction; safety in an electrophysiology laboratory. 2) Hands-on exercises start with simple equivalent circuits and basic recording devices, and continue on active model cells with research instruments.
Students will learn how to perform current and voltage clamp experiments using one or two microelectrodes in continuous/bridge/
discontinuous/whole cell/perforated patch recording modes.
Realisation and working methods Lectures and laboratory work during afternoons (noon till about 5 PM daily) of two consecutive weeks.
Study materials and literature Course compendium, and written instructions for laboratory exercises.
Evaluation Active participation is required.
A written examination is based on the course compendium and the laboratory exercises.
Grading scale 0-5.
920019/52277 Electrophysiological applications in neurophysiology, 5 Cr Relations to other study units Advanced courses in neurobiology, genetics and molecular biology are required.
Contents During the course, the students will learn basic skills in vitro electrophysiological techniques (extra- and intracellular recordings, patch-clamp). Different recording modes and their advantages and disadvantages (current-clamp, voltage-(current-clamp, population responses, single-cell activity, different synaptic inputs) will be dealt with. By the end of the course the students should be able to understand the possibilities and the limitations of in vitro electrophysiological approaches in neuroscience research, and to design experiments in which the techniques are applied in a physiologically relevant manner
Realisation and working methods Laboratory course
Evaluation Grading scale 0-5.
920008 Optical Imaging in Neuroscience, 3 Cr This course is replaced by 910111 Imaging techniques in biological sciences
Other information Organized by HBGS.
920015 Basic Methods in Neural Cell Culture, 3 Cr
Relations to other study units “920001 Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience” is highly recommended for those planning to attend the course.
Objective The purpose of the course is to familiarize students with some basic neural cell culture and molecular biology techniques.
Problem based learning approach.
Contents Aseptic working methods, establishment and maintenance of primary neural cell cultures, transfection, immunofluorescence stainings, and live cell imaging.
Realisation and working methods Lectures, demonstrations, laboratory exercises and course compendium
Study material and literature Will be provided during the course
Evaluation Pass/fail.
920016 Systems Neuroscience I: Introduction to Perception, Attention, and Memory, 5 Cr Objective After the course, the student has an overview on the neuronal mechanisms underlying perception, attention, and memory, and on the current research issues.
Contents Concepts of mechanisms and phenomena. Spatial and temporal scales of neuronal architecture and dynamics. Bottom-up and top-down processing, cellular- and network-level correlates for psychophysiological observations. Correlated neuronal activities and emergence of large-scale brain dynamics.
Realisation and working methods Lecture series
Study materials and literature Lecture material and Gazzaniga et al. Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of Mind, 3rd edition.
Evaluation Examination. Grading scale 0-5.
920017 Laboratory Works in Systems Neuroscience: MEG, EEG and MRI, 5 Cr Objective To learn the laboratory skills for making an MEG, EEG, and MRI experiment.
Contents Theory of MEG, EEG, and MRI, and basics of psychophysical testing. Data acquisition with simultaneous MEG and EEG, and with MRI. Preprocessing of time-series data, artefact identification and removal, co-localization with anatomical data, segmentation and labelling of inflated cortical surfaces from MRI data.
Realisation and working methods Practical course. Lectures on instrumentation background, laboratory practises and precautions. Real data acquisition in small
groups, every student will make several recordings and participate as a subject once.
Study materials and literature Will be provided during the course.
Evaluation Examination, lab notebooks, report. Grading scale pass/fail.
920018 Data analysis and Management in Neuroscience, 3-5 Cr
Relations to other study units “920017 Laboratory Works in Systems Neuroscience:
MEG, EEG and MRI” is a prerequisite for those planning to attend the course.
Objective After the course, the students are familiar with the concepts and practical execution of essential data analysis methods.
Contents Time-series analyses in time, frequency, and time-frequency domains.
Amplitude and phase interactions. Basics of databasing.
Realisation and working methods Practical course. Real electrophysiology, imaging, MEG, EEG, and MRI data analyses in computer exercises; Project work on analysis design and implementation (3 Cr). Basics of LabVIEW programming (2 Cr).
Study materials and literature Will be provided during the course.
Evaluation Project report. Grading scale pass/
fail.
522056 Behavioral Testing for Rat Models of Neurological Diseases, 3 Cr
Objective A wide variety of tests are available for the behavioral testing of rats. At the end of this course, students should: (1) Understand the significance of these tests as models of neurological systems (motor, sensory, cognitive, etc.); (2) Be able to perform a representative sample of such tests, and become familiar with normal rat behavior in various setups;
(3) Realize the potential and limitation of such testing, and the need to use a wide variety of
tests; (4) Design a simple battery of tests for a neurological model of human disease or (novel) drug; (5) Recognize where EthoVision XT 7.0 can be used to facilitate behavioral analysis.
Contents (1) The rat as an animal model of neurological disease; (2) The advantages and disadvantages of rat models, the power and limitation of testing and experimental design;
(3) Setups in the behavioral testing of rats; (4) Motor tests and reflexology; (5) Sensory tests;
(6) Cognitive/affective and memory tests; (7) Social interaction; (8) Analysis of results on EthoVision; (9) Collation of results, analysis, presentation, and preliminary interpretation.
Study materials and literature Will be provided during the course
Evaluation Assessment based on submitted report and examination. Grading scale 0-5.
522049 Lectures in Laboratory Animal Science, 2 Cr
Objective These lectures lead to C-category (scientist) competence to work with laboratory animals according to European (Convention 1986/ETS 123; Directive 86/609/EEC) and Finnish legislation (62/2006).
Contents 1. Biology and husbandry of laboratory animals, 2. Microbiology and disease, 3. Genetics, 4. Health hazards and safe practices, 5. Design and conduct of animal experiments, 6. Anaesthesia, analgesia and experimental procedures, 7. Alternatives to animal use, 8.
Ethical aspects and legislation, 9. Analysis of scientific literature.
Study materials and literature Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science (2nd edition), Vol 1, Essential Principles and Practices. Jann Hau and Gerald L. Van Hoosier, Jr. (eds). CRC Press, 2003, or other literature.
Realisation and working methods Lectures (40-45 h) and an examination.
Other information These lectures together with 522055 Practical Work in Laboratory Animal Science or an equivalent course, and
suitable academic degree will give competence to FELASA Category C - Persons responsible for directing animal experiments (522051).
Evaluation Examination.
522020 Neurobiophysics 1, 5-8 Cr
Relations to other study units Previous knowledge in neurobiology is required for good learning results. The two courses Neurobiophysics 1 and 2 may be studied in either order.
Objective The aim of the course is to give a good knowledge and an understanding of ion channel biophysics from physical chemistry and early models such as the Hodgkin-Huxley model, to recent findings from structure-function studies.
Contents Basic concepts and physics of ion channel function; the Hodgkin-Huxley model and voltage gated channels; physicochemical principles and mechanisms of function;
structure-function relationships of ion channels including mechanisms of selective permeability, gating and block etc; overviews on main types of ion channels; ion channels and cell physiology.
Realisation and working methods The course consists of ten lectures and ten examinations at approximately two week intervals. A typical exam is based on two chapters of the book.
Study materials and literature Hille B, Ion Channels of Excitable Membranes, 3rd edition, 2001, Sinauer. Review articles.
Evaluation Ten written examinations and a refresh exam (recommended), or alternatively one final exam. Grading scale 0- 5.
522021 Neurobiophysics 2, 5-8 Cr
Relations to other study units Previous knowledge in neurobiology and basic calculus are required for good learning results. The two courses Neurobiophysics 1 and 2 may be studied in either order.
Objective The aim of the course is to give a good knowledge and an understanding of cellular neurophysiology, with emphasis on electrical signalling at the cellular level, on the methods of analyzing experimental data, and on examples of modelling.
Contents Basic electricity; ion movements across membranes; linear and nonlinear properties of membranes; properties and modelling of dendrites; ion channels and statistical analysis of experimental data; synaptic transmission; origin and analysis of field signals;
cellular neurophysiology; homework problems.
Realisation and working methods The course consists of nine lectures and nine examinations at approximately two week intervals. A typical exam is based on two chapters of the book.
Study materials and literature Johnston D. & Wu S.M.-S.: Foundations of Cellular Neurophysiology, The MIT Press, 1995. Review articles.
Evaluation Nine written examinations and a refresh exam (recommended), or alternatively one final exam; homework problems. Grading scale 0-5.
52090 Sensory Biology, 3 Cr
Contents Acquiring information about the environment and using it to direct biologically meaningful behaviour has been a crucial success factor in animal evolution. The course encompasses information concepts, basic physical and biological conditions for acquisition of different types of information, the functional principles of sensory organs, neural processing of sensory information, the adaptation of sensory systems to different environments and life styles, and animal communication.
Realisation and working methods Lectures and independent work.
Study materials and literature Lecture notes, material given during lectures, and other selected reading.
Evaluation Examination. Grading scale 0-5.
920023 Personal Study Plan, 1 Cr
52232 Final Examination in M.Sc. Degree in Neuroscience, 8-12 Cr
Literature The exam is based on selected exam books (e.g. Cowan, Sudhoff and Stevens:
Synapses, 2003, 792 pp) and review articles.
920000 Neuroscience Seminar Series Credits 20 attended seminars = 1.5 Cr