MEDSCI 727 : Advanced Neuroscience: Neurophysiology

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An advanced treatment of selected topics in neurophysiology and brain pathophysiology. Includes presentations and critical analysis by the students of the current scientific literature within the context of several major research themes that encompass models from molecular and cellular to systems level. Themes will be selected from the following areas: (1) motor control and motor disorders; (2) synapse physiology and pathophysiology; (3) advances in neural stem cell research; and (4) physiology and pathophysiology of CNS glia.

Course Overview

The objective of the course is to provide an in-depth understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of neuronal disorders in the nervous system. The program will be partly based on student presentations of papers published in scientific journals, and introductory lectures for each topic. Module include  Astrocyte physiology and pathophysiology, Spinal cord injury and the extracellular matrix, Microglia physiology and pathophysiology, and Biomarkers of dementia

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MEDSCI 206, 317

Course Contacts

Course Director:         Assoc.  Prof. J. Dean (j.dean@auckland.ac.nz;  ext. 86201)
Course co-ordinator:  Dr R. Selvaratnam (r.subramaniam@auckland.ac.nz;  ext. 86955)

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of specific topics of neuroscience/neurophysiology covered in the course. (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Present and critically assess and discuss current scientific literature in the field. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  3. Demonstrate ability to effectively communicate scientific knowledge/information. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  4. Apply scientific logic in assessing methodologies and experimental design used in specific areas of brain research (Capability 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8)
  5. Analyse and critically interpret published experimental data in selected areas of neuroscience/neurophysiology. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
3 written assignments (each 10%) 30% Individual Coursework
1 oral presentation 10% Individual Coursework
2 hr written exam (Degree paper) 60% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
3 written assignments (each 10%)
1 oral presentation
2 hr written exam (Degree paper)

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

Each week  you can expect 3 hours of lectures/tutorials and oral student presentations followed by general discussion, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the general course content, and 4 hours of work on written assignments. 

In addition, you  are expected  to spend about 12 hours  in total over the 12 week teaching period preparing  your oral presentation  (PowerPoint) and   handouts of this presentation for other students participating in the course.


Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including lectures, tutorials and seminars to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars and tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The course has been consistently highly rated by the students. 
For example in 2019 SET assessment, the overall satisfaction with the quality of the course was rated 4.7 by the participating students, well above the mean for the FMHS (4.1).

Other Information

Course materials and other information about the the course will be made available in a learning  tool called Canvas. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.