Topic Information Booklet MMED2933 2021 v1 PDF

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MMED2933 FUNDAMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE TOPIC INFORMATION BOOKLET 2021 TOPIC DESCRIPTION This topic will provide students with an understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of nervous system function. The material will explore the properties of neurons and other cells in the nervous system that are essential for normal neural activity. Topics covered will include key molecular components of neurons and other neural cells, the generation of resting membrane potentials and action potentials in neurons, neurotransmitter synthesis and release, the properties of neurotransmitter receptors and the cellular responses to released neurotransmitters. Subsequent sessions will examine the properties and function of simple neural circuits, the adaptive responses of neurons that contribute to normal function including learning and memory and other key mechanisms. Assumed Knowledge An understanding of basic mammalian cell structure and function is assumed. Educational Aims The aim of this topic is to provide students with an understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of nervous system function. The topic will provide fundamental knowledge on the properties of neurons and other cells in the nervous system that underpin normal neurotransmission. It will subsequently examine the features of simple neural circuits, adaptive responses of neurons. This knowledge will allow the students to read and understand much of the neuroscience literature and will provide a strong foundation for further study into advanced aspects of normal nervous system function and the effects of disease. Expected Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this topic students will have an understanding of:

• the properties of neurons and other cells in the nervous system that are essential for normal behaviour. This will include the key molecular components of neurons and other neural cells, the generation of resting membrane potentials and action potentials in neurons, neurotransmitter synthesis and release, the properties of neurotransmitter receptors and neuronal responses to neurotransmitter release

• the properties and functions of simple neural circuits • the adaptive responses of neurons that contribute to normal function including learning and memory Students will be able to:

• integrate and apply this knowledge to interpret information on the responses of nerve cells to normal and abnormal stimuli.

COORDINATOR Professor Simon Brookes College of Medicine and Public Health Room 6E 128, Flinders Medical Centre Phone: 8204 4201 (64201 internal) E-mail: [email protected]

If you are unable to contact the Topic Coordinator, please contact: Associate Professor Vladimir Zagorodnyuk College of Medicine and Public Health Room 5E 209, Flinders Medical Centre Phone: 7221 8665 (18665 internal) E-mail: [email protected]

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LECTURERS Professor Simon Brookes College of Medicine and Public Health (Human Physiology) Room 6E 128, Flinders Medical Centre Phone: 8204 4201 (64201 internal) Email: [email protected] Associate Professor Vladimir Zagorodnyuk College of Medicine and Public Health (Human Physiology) Room 6E 135, Flinders Medical Centre Phone: 8204 5238 (65238 internal) Email: [email protected] Professor Marcello Costa College of Medicine and Public Health (Human Physiology) Room 6E 128, Flinders Medical Centre Phone: 8204 4182 (64182 internal) Email: [email protected] Dr Yoichiro Otsuka College of Medicine and Public Health (Human Physiology) Room 6E 410, Flinders Medical Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 8204 5740 (65740 internal)

GENERAL INFORMATION The Topic will run in Semester 1. All lectures and tutorials will be available on FLO. Lectures will be pre-recorded and put online before the scheduled event in the timetable. Powerpoint presentations will also be made available as PDF copies. For some lectures, additional text notes will also be made available at the same time. Tutorials will be held online using Collaborate software as per the timetable. We may schedule some optional face-to-face meetings. These College of Medicine and Public Health, Lecture theatres 2 or 3, 5th floor, Flinders Medical Centre, or in Lecture theatre 1.01 of the Health Sciences Lecture Theatre complex (HSLTC1.01) See full timetable on the topic’s FLO page.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS Bear, M.F., Connors, B.W. and Paradiso, M.A. (2016) Neuroscience: Exploring the brain. 4th edition, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore. (This book provides a good overview of many sections of the topic.) Additional useful reference Squire, L.R., Berg, D., Bloom, F.E., du Lac, S., Ghosh, A. and Spitzer N.C. (2013) Fundamental Neuroscience, 4th edition, Academic Press, Amsterdam. (This provides a well-organised and readable coverage of most of the topics in the course, although often in more detail than required.) Kandel, E.R., Schwartz, J.H., Jessel, T.M., Siegelbaum, S.A. and Hudspeth, A.J. (2013) Principles of Neural Science, 5th edition, McGraw-Hill, New York. (This book also provides good coverage of most topics. Again, in many areas, this is more detailed than is needed but the book would also be useful for later neuroscience topics.) These books are available on short-term loan in the Medical Library. Much of the content of the topic will be available as lecture outlines/textnotes, copies of Powerpoint presentations and pre-recorded videos. These will be provided on FLO prior to the lectures.

TOPIC ASSESSMENT The topic will be assessed by a written examination at the end of Semester 1, which will account for 50% of the total 2

assessment. The remaining 50% of the assessment will comprise 2 assignments (17% each) and weekly multiple choice online tests (16%). The assignment papers will be handed out during the semester and students will have at least 2 weeks to complete each assignment. There will be questions and problems set during the tutorials in (in Collaborate) but these will not count towards the final mark. Online tests and tutorials The top 8 quiz marks (out of 11) will contribute 16% of the final grade for the topic. In addition, at the time of quizzes, students are encouraged to identify problem areas that they would like to be covered during the next online tutorial in Collaborate. This can be done in a separate link, when completing the online quiz. Online quizzes will not be reset under any circumstances. Students should attempt all quizzes so that if mishaps occur and one is missed, the scoring system (best 8 of 11 quizzes) will minimise the negative impact. Assignments Assignment 1 will be an online FLO exercise relating to nerve cell function. Referencing is not required for this assignment. Assignment 2 will involve a series of questions about one or more neuroscience research papers to test your understanding of how nerve cells and circuits work and how they can be investigated. If submission of written work is required in Assignment 2, your written answers including any figures, must be uploaded via FLO to the assignment drop-box. Students must ensure that their submission has uploaded correctly and is the final version. Please note that if your assignment submission status is ‘Draft (not submitted)’ then your assignment is considered not submitted until you have completed the ‘submitted for grading’ process and will be considered late if this is accepted after the due date. This will apply even if you have made no changes prior to accepting the declaration. Correct, confirmed final submission must occur by the due date/time otherwise the late penalty will be applied. If you have problems uploading your assignment, please contact the topic coordinator by email on [email protected]. Text-Matching Software Flinders University uses text-matching software called Turnitin to help students avoid unintentional plagiarism. Further information is available at http://flinders.edu.au/academicintegrity/student.cfm A draft submission box is available on FLO “Text Matching – Check drafts here” to allow you to check your work to avoid unintentional plagiarism. YOU MUST check a draft of your work before final submission via the Assignment drop box. Please note, it can take up to 24 hours to receive your report back from Turnitin. Late Penalties A penalty of 5% will be subtracted per calendar day (or part of a day) that an assignment is late, without an extension or medical/counsellor’s certificate. For example, a score of 73% would be reduced to 63% if your assignment is 1.5 days late. All assignments submitted 10 calendar days after the due date (or later) will not be marked and be given a score of 0%. Late penalties will be applied if the electronic copy of your assignment is not submitted in the correct format or not submitted incorrectly by the due date (including drafts in Turnitin text-matching software. Assignment extensions: To request an extension to an assignment you MUST use the online "ASSIGNMENT EXTENSION REQUEST" tool that is located on the home page of the topic on FLO. Please click on the assignment extension tool and provide all required information at least 24 hours BEFORE the assignment is due. Requests submitted after the due date will normally be rejected. Please note that we will only approve requests that are made on the basis of events that could not be anticipated and which would be reasonably expected to prevent you working on an assignment. Usually extensions are only granted on medical reasons or on compassionate grounds (eg death of near family member) and these should be accompanied by a medical certificate or counsellor's letter, which specifies the period of disruption. Breakdown of computer software or hardware is not a valid excuse - so we strongly advise you to keep backups of your assignments as you write them. A scan or photo of your medical/counsellor's letter should be uploaded in the Assignment Extension Tool if an extension of more than 3 days is requested. Failure to provide proof of veracity for your claim may prevent an extension being granted. We will not approve extensions of more than 10 days after the standard due date. In addition, we expect students to start working on assignments in a timely fashion. If you have left it to the last minute and then you get sick, you may only be granted a short extension. Please note that verbal extensions will not be given. Requests sent by email to the topic coordinator will be returned to students to enter via the FLO tool. You will be informed by email or on FLO whether your request has been accepted or rejected. Do NOT assume that it has been granted unless you have written confirmation. If you are granted an extension, you MUST submit by the extended date - if you exceed this, penalties of 5% per day or part day will be deducted after the extension. All assignments must be submitted before the end of the semester 1 exam period to be considered in your final mark. (See “Statement of Assessment Methods”) on FLO.

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EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES (FLINDERS MEDICAL CENTRE) IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES WHICH HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR YOUR SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR SIMILAR EMERGENCY IN A UNIVERSITY BUILDING All buildings of the University have some kind of device for warning of an emergency. In some buildings this is a bell - in others it is a siren, which may be either hand held or fixed. In the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders Medical Centre a siren device is used. The ALERT signal is an intermittent beep. If you hear this signal you should not leave the building but you should prepare to do so by securing confidential materials and valuables and switching off computers and electrical appliances. If you hear a continual 'whooping' tone, which is the EVACUATE signal, or if instructed to do so by a Warden, leave the building by the nearest and safest exit route. Go to the Assembly point advised by the Wardens. DO NOT USE THE LIFTS IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION Do not re-enter the building until instructed by an Emergency Services Incident Controller PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION MAY OCCUR BY MAKING YOURSELF FAMILIAR WITH THE EXIT ROUTES FROM THE BUILDINGS YOU USE. ALL EXIT ROUTES ARE MARKED WITH EXIT SIGNS. AT ALL TIMES DURING AN EMERGENCY FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE WARDENS THEY ARE TRAINED TO HANDLE EMERGENCIES AND HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT PERSONS AT ALL LEVELS TO COMPLY WITH EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

PLAGIARISM Plagiarism consists of using another person's words or ideas as if they were one's own and will not be tolerated by the University. The University policy on plagiarism is set out in the “Student Related Policies and Procedures” Section 2.2.1, Assessment and Teaching, Academic Integrity (http://www.flinders.edu.au/ppmanual/student/academic-integrity.cfm) Turnitin software is extremely effective in detecting copying. This works even when students copy and paste a piece of text and then change the wording to disguise their actions. Please use your own wording in all submitted work except where you unequivocally identify short quotationswhich should be identified by quotation marks “...”, You MUST indicate the source of any quote with an appropriate reference which can be traced.

REFERENCING Refer to the Student Learning Centre website for details http://www.flinders.edu.au/current-students/slc/

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