PHYSIOL 3001 - Cellular & Systems Neurobiology

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2016

The course information on this page is being finalised for 2016. Please check again before classes commence.

The Cellular & Systems Neurobiology course encompasses the study of the mammalian central and peripheral nervous system, from the level of ion channels, receptors and cell signaling mechanisms, through the integrated roles of brain and nerves in sensory perception, homeostasis, higher cognition, learning and memory. Research case studies from the primary literature are used to explore cutting edge concepts, introduce methods, and develop critical evaluation skills. In-class review sessions are provided to assist with revising key material. Conceptual knowledge is assessed with four block exams through the semester, and on-line tutorials. The laboratory practical involves placement of students in small groups for 'hands on' hypothesis-driven research that is supervised by an expert researcher in a professional working laboratory environment. Face-to-face workshops and online tutorials support the development of skills used in conducting research; writing research proposals; and presenting scientific talks on methodological approaches selected for the small group research projects.

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Course Details

Course Code	PHYSIOL 3001
Course	Cellular & Systems Neurobiology
Coordinating Unit	Medical Sciences
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Contact	Up to 8 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	PHYSIOL 2510 or equivalent
Incompatible	PHYSIOL 3102 & PHYSIOL 3003
Assumed Knowledge	PHYSIOL 2520
Assessment	Written exams on lecture material, Research project assessed via supervisors assessment of laboratory performance, group methodology poster, individual literature review

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Professor Andrea Yool

Course Coordinator: Andrea Yool
Phone: +61 8 8313 3359
Email: andrea.yool@adelaide.edu.au
Loction: Room N405, Medical School North, Frome Rd.

Tutor: David Wilson
Phone: +61 8 8313 3193
Email: david.p.wilson@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Room S523, Medical School South, Frome Rd.

Student Services Office
Contat: Ryan Rosner
Phone: +61 8 8313 5571
Email: ryan.rosner@adelaide.edu.au

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Have learned the foundational concepts of neurophysiology from the molecular to the systems levels.
2	Be able to explain the main theories and supporting evidence for principles of molecular neurobiology, bioelectrical and chemical signalling, the development and organisation of the nervous system, sensory perception and muscle control, the physiological basis of pattern generation and integration in nerve networks, and the functional roles of the nervous system in homeostasis and higher order cognitive functions.
3	Be able to capably interpret case studies based on primary literature, to identify key signaling processes involved in neurophysiological functions, and to solve new problems and situations with logic and knowledge based on first principles in neurobiology.
4	Be able to understand the physiological and pathophysiological basis of nervous system function and its relevance to fields of ethics, medicine, neurology, neuroscience and physiology.
5	Have developed the abilities to read and critically evaluate scientific literature, to formulate and test a hypothesis, to carry out a research project, to quantitatively analyse data, and to interpret the outcomes using logic supported with statistical tests.
6	Have gained competency in scientific written and oral communication skills in professional formats, acquired techniques for evaluating the quality and rigour of evidence presented to support an idea, and honed skills in critical thinking.
7	Be able to explain major principles in neuroscience and discuss gaps in our knowledge base that remain to be explored.
8	Understand how to locate relevant scientific information with on-line databases and search tools, formulate a testable research question, and design a theoretical experimental strategy to test the hypothesis.
9	Demonstrate group team work, leadership skills, and technical skills in selected modern research methods.
10	Be conversant in a broad range of investigative methods and scientific applications, including the selection, implementation, ethical use, and limitations of the experimental techniques in physiology, neuroscience and related fields of research.

University Graduate Attributes

No information currently available.

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Course reading will focus on review articles and published scientific papers, posted on the course MyUni website. There is no required textbook.

Recommended Resources

Online content tutorials and workshops will be used to support learning for the theory and practical components of the course.

Learning & Teaching Modes

Theory will be presented in lectures and assigned published scientific papers, and supported by in-class review sessions (‘lectorials’). On-line tutorials will revise concepts and allow development of problem solving skills. On-line content tutorials and face-to- face workshops will support technical skills development for the practical laboratory section of the course.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

COURSE NAME: Cell & Systems Neurobiology		2014 ANDREA YOOL
Contact hours (semester)
Type	Number of sessions	Duration of each session (hr)	Total Hours
Lectures	39	1	39
Tutorials in-class ("lectorials")	4	1	4
Practicals	12	4	48
Exams	4	1	4
Other (e.g., field trips, project work)			0
			95
Assessment Tasks (semester)
Summative tutorials	4	6	24
Extended lab report / Assignments			0
Practical reports: On-line "practorials"	3	3	9
Presentation - oral report	1	10	10
Summative tests	4	8	32
Project design study			0
Literature review	1	12	12
Take-home exams			0
Other (please specify): Supervisor assessment	1	1	1
Online tutorials	4	4	16
			104
Non-contact (semester)
Weekly reading & other study (hours/lecture)	12	4	48
Preparation for tutorial (hours/tutorial)	4	8	32
Preparation for practical (hours/practical)	12	1	12
Preparation for tests (hours/test)			0
Exam preparation	4	5	5
Other (please specify):			0
Online tutorial quizzes	4	16	16
			113
Total workload (hrs/semester)			312
Workload/week (hr)			24

Expected workload (hrs/week):
3-unit course - 12
6-unit course - 24
9-unit course - 36
12-unit course - 48
Note that the workload model is based on 12 teaching and 1 non-teaching weeks

Learning Activities Summary

Week	Lectures			Online Tutorials	Instructor
1	ONLINE A1. Introduction to cellular and systems neurobiology	A2. CNS Neurogenesis A3. Axon outgrowth and synaptic formation	A4. Blood-brain barrier and fluid homeostasis	Tutorial 1 Block A	AY
2	A5. Ligand-gated and GPCR receptors	A6. Excitatory neurotransmission A7. Cellular basis of memory	ONLINE A8. Case study: AQPs in cancer		AY
3	holiday	A9. Lectorial: Block A B1. Introduction to sensory systems	B2. Auditory processing		AY
4	B3. Olfaction and gustation	PAPER A EXAM in class	holiday	Tutorial 2 Block B	SW
5	holiday	B4. Eye and phototransduction B5. Retinal processing and the LGN	B6. Central visual processing		SW
6	B7. Vestibular system	B8. The mind-machine interface B9. Lectorial: Block B	B10. Case study: (TBA)		SW
mid-semester break
7	holiday	PAPER B EXAM in class	C1. Overview of the peripheral nervous system	Tutorial 3 Block C	EB
8	C2. Neural crest lineages; Hirschsprung's Disease	C3. Enteric nervous system (ENS)- The second brain C4. Extrinsic modulation of the ENS	C5. The brain-gut axis		EB
9	C6. Neural control of smooth muscle	C7. Neural control of organ function C8. Genetic tools for analysing NS functions	C9. Case study: Spinal cord injury and bladder control		EB
10	D1. Overview of ion channels	C10. Lectorial Block C --No lecture in second slot--	D2. Voltage-gated channels		AY
11	D3. Principles of electrical signalling	PAPER C EXAM in class	D4. Ionic mechanisms in repetitive firing	Tutorial 4 Block D	AY
12	D5. Functional roles of other ion channels (TRP, chloride, connexins)	D6. Modulation of synaptic transmission D7. Lectorial: Block D	ONLINE D8. Case study: Nav1.8 in pain perception	Tutorial 4 Block D	AY

Instructors: Andrea Yool; Steve Wiederman; Elizabeth (Liz) Beckett; David Wilson.

Paper D EXAM- The examination for block D (25%; 14 marks) will be held during the scheduled university final examination period, date to be announced.

Small Group Discovery Experience

Students will work in small groups, typically 3 to 4 students, as apprenticeship placements in working research laboratories at Uni Adelaide and affiliated research centres in Adelaide. Students enrol in projects of interest, and are encouraged to continue the placements in the second semester level 3 course. In the lab, students learn current research methods and gain an understanding of the goals and strategies of the research program by discussion and reading. The students design and carry out experiments to test a hypothesis, supervised by an experienced academic or research staff member of the Physiology discipline who drives the research program. Students analyse data, write a literature review and present a group oral report based on their research experience.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Assessment Type	Weighting	Learning Outcome(s) being addressed
Exams on theory for each of the four lecture blocks	Summative	4 x 14 = 56%	1-4, 7, 10
In-class revision sessions (called “lectorials”)	Formative	0%	1-4, 7, 10
Online revision tutorials	Formative & Summative	4 x 2 = 8%	1-4, 7, 10
Literature review, individual	Summative	12%	3, 5, 6, 8
Oral presentation, group	Summative	10%	5-6, 9-10
Online skills tutorials for research methods (called ‘practorials’)	Formative & Summative	9%	8-10
Practical- Supervisor’s assessment of performance	Summative	5%	6-7, 10

Assessment Related Requirements

Barrier requirement: Students must earn at least 50% of the total possible exam marks (28 or more marks out of 56 marks possible) to meet the barrier requirement to pass the course.

Assessment Detail

Assessment summary (marks out of 100 total for the semester)

64 Theory	56	Four block exams at 14 marks each
	8	Four on-line revision tutorials at 2 marks each
36 Practical	12	Individual literature review
	10	Group research methodology poster presentation
	9	On-line practorials (research skills)
	5	Supervisor assessment of student laboratory performance

100 TOTAL marks for the semester

Submission

All information on the electronic submission of essays, the use of cover-sheets, location for physical submission of practical reports, and the specification of submission through TURNITIN are provided in the Course Manual and on-line on the MyUni course website. The penalty for late submission is set in accord with School policy, at 30% per day late for level 3 courses. Requests for extensions to due dates require medical or compassionate certificate support, and an application form, as specified in University guidelines available on-line. Staff “turn-around” timeline on assessments and the provision of feedback to students depends on the size of the class and the complexity of the assignment. For tutorial assessments, feedback is provided within 24 hours of the due date. Block exam marking and literature review marking for a class of100 students will usually take at least 2 and often 3 weeks after the respective due dates.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

SELTS are run for the course and for the instructors at least once every 2 years.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator