This lecture series by prof. Kai Kaila is part of the curriculum of the University of Helsinki, Dept. Biosciences & Neuroscience Center.

52265 Introduction to neurobiology (= 920009) 5 credits
52265 Neurobiologican luennot (= 920009) 5 opintopistettä

Time: 9.-21.5.2011, daily (Mo-Fri) 13-16

Place: University of Helsinki, Biocenter 2 (BIO2 Viikinkaari 5) and InfoCenter (INFO Viikinkaari 11)

09.5.2011 BIO2 AUD 2041
10.5.2011 BIO2 AUD 2041
11.5.2011 INFO AUD 3
12.5.2011 BIO2 AUD 2041
13.5.2011 INFO AUD 3

16.5.2011 BIO2 AUD 2041
17.5.2011 BIO2 AUD 1041
18.5.2011 BIO2 AUD 1041
19.5.2011 BIO2 AUD 1041
20.5.2011 INFO AUD 2

Registration through WebOODI (Univ Helsinki students) or to katri.wegeliushelsinki.fi

Lecture material and EXAM RESULTS available here >> (password to open the attachments page is given at the lectures)

1) Exam based on lectures: 5 credits (opintopiste/ECTS)
(Please note that without attending the lectures you are not likely to pass the exam successfully.)

Exam: 1.6.2011 at 1 p.m. (13:00), BIO2 AUD 2041 EXAM RESULTS >> (password needed to open the attachments page)

Exam retake: 22.6.2011 at 1 p.m. (13:00), BIO2 AUD 1041

In addition, you can take the following book exam simultaneously with the lecture exam (you will get max 2 hrs extra time for completing the exam):  
2) Purves et al: Neuroscience (6 cr)

FINAL CHANCE TO TAKE THE EXAM is on August 26th, 2011 at 12 in Biocenter 2 auditorium 2041 (during the general examination of physiology and neuroscience).
For this, please register by WebOodi or by sending an email to katri.wegelius@helsinki.fi (when registering, please tell if you wish also to take the Purves exam).

The following subjects, among others, will be discussed during the lectures: 

• Neurobiology and its relationships to other fields of science
• Research methods in neurobiology
• History of ideas and ideologies in neurobiology
• Biophysics of neuronal membranes; thermodynamics of electrochemical phenomena
• Electrical and chemical signalling in the brain: ion channels and transporters, action and resting potentials, synaptic function and plasticity
• Information processing in the nervous system  
• Plasticity of the developing and adult brain: establishment, pruning and maintenance of neuronal connections; Hebbian vs. homeostatic plasticity
• Genes and brains. “Nature and Nurture”; ontogeny and evolution.
• Spontaneous activity in the developing brain: mechanisms and consequences
• Learning and memory: from behaviorism to modern neuroscience 
• Motor system: muscles, central pattern generators, reflexes and voluntary control
• Neuroethology: neuronal networks and fixed action patterns
• Sensations and perceptions (receptors, feature detectors, and the “binding problem”)
• Evolutionary optimization and compromises in the “design” of the brain
• Neurobiology of consciousness

Target group: Students from different disciplines, including biology, psychology, medicine, physics and biomedical engineering.