This course is offered by the department of Biomedical sciences, Veterinary sciences and the Antwerp University Hospital
Coordinator: Annemie Van Der Linden
Lecturers: Annemie Van Der Linden, Jean-Pierre Timmermans, Michele Giugliano, Floris Wuyts, Peter Aerts, Jos Rozema, Guy Hans, Dirk De Ridder, Filiep Vanpoucke
ECTS: 6

Goal and content
The course will deal with sensory functions, motor functions, autonomic and regulatory functions, cognitive and behavioural functions, and development and plasticity.

I 'Sensory Functions' 
This section reviews the sensory organs and discusses in detail the processing of sensory signals at higher (subcortical and cortical) stages. Other topics include the synaptic organization of the thalamus, visual attention, cochlear implants, and lateral inhibition.

II  'Motor Functions'
This section deals with principles of bio-mechanics, posture control, locomotion, voluntary movement, eye movements, synaptic organization of the spinal cord, the basal ganglia and cerebellum.

III  'Autonomic and Regulatory Functions'
This sections deals with  the comparative anatomy and physiology of the autonomic nervous system, the central control of the autonomic nervous system, the nervous control of the cardiovascular, respiratory, urogenital and digestive systems, autonomic neuro-effector mechanisms, interactions with the endocrine system, disorders of the autonomic nervous system, and the synaptic organization of the hypothalamus and brainstem.

IV  'Cognitive and Behavioural Functions'
This section offers a review of the functional and synaptic organization of the neocortex and the limbic system, an introduction to brain imaging and cognitive neuroscience, and the principles of network dynamics and mechanisms involved in the generation of brain rhythms and epilepsy.

V ‘Development and Plasticity’
This section reviews the basic events during neuro-embryology, and deals with  self-organization and the formation of topographic maps, and plasticity in the songbird model.

Prerequisite knowledge: Relevant BA. A specific prerequisite for this course is knowledge of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
Teaching method: general lectures by instructors; feed-back sessions.
Place/time/frequency: weekly classes over a twelve-week period.
Assessment: oral examination after written preparation.
Literature: reader and textbook: Squire LR, Roberts JL, Spitzer NC, Zigmond MJ, McConnell SK and Bloom FE (Eds.) Fundamental Neuroscience, 3rd ed., Academic Press, 2007, ISBN 0123740193,