• The Medical School
• Studying
• Modules
• Description

Developmental Neuroscience

Module description

The field of developmental neuroscience is, itself, developing rapidly – and having a substantial impact on our understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders. This module will present the very latest thinking about a range of key issues, including the molecular and cellular events underlying gene expression and axon guidance. The last third of the course will focus on activity-dependent plasticity and current translational research into developmental disorders. This module offers the opportunity to combine basic knowledge with state-of-the-art techniques

This is an optional module for students studying BSc Neuroscience, and is open to other Medical Science students.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module introduces some major issues in developmental neuroscience, focusing on the normal development of axonal and synaptic connectivity. The consequences of errors in these processes will be considered through reference to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. The module especially highlights the range of research methods brought to bear on these varied and interrelated investigations. 

You will be supported, through the preparation of innovative “Snapshots”,  to enhance your own ability to critique primary research.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Describe anatomical neurodevelopment, in human and mouse models, between embryonic and postnatal time points
• 2. Appraise the role of stem cells in early devlopment and how this particularly relates to neuronal differentiation.
• 3. Explain how axon guidance mechanisms change during neuronal development
• 4. Describe the role of migration between cortical layers as a feature of brain development.
• 5. Understand how spine maturation occurs in the brain during development; identify key variations between stages
• 6. Interpret how synapse formation regulates neuronal activity and plasticity during brain development.
• 7. Explore the role of neuroendocrine processes in neural development including hormonal changing.
• 8. Evaluate the concept of neurodevelopmental disease; compare and contrast identified examples.
• 9. Understand the current research of neurodevelopmental disorders including Autism.
• 10. Describe anatomical neurodevelopment, in human and mouse models, between embryonic and postnatal time points

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 11. Judge the extent to which systems made of different components may operate through common principles
• 12. Illustrate key aspects of neurodevelopment through the use of Snapshots.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 13. Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• 14. Evaluate information and summarise it accurately
• 15. Communicate ideas clearly and concisely

Syllabus plan

The module’s precise content will vary from year to year, but the following information gives an detailed description of the typical overall structure. 

The module begins with an introductory workshop to outline its broad aims, weekly structure, and assessment processes. 

For each of the following ten weeks there will be a one-hour lecture and a facilitated small group session. The small group sessions alternate between a journal club, in which students discuss a paper chosen by the academic staff, and a Snapshot workshop. Snapshots are a distinctive form of visual presentation used in scientific communication, and form a central feature of the module. They are one of the most popular and highly downloaded features in Cell Press archive (https://www.cell.com/snapshots?code=cell-site). They will build on the Flashcard skills you developed in the Disease, Diagnostics and Therapeutics module, as well as the figures you prepared as part of Fundamental Skills for Medical Scientists and Principles of Medical Research. 

The final week of the module has a consolidation workshop, in which students can chose which topic areas they would like to re-visit. 

Lectures 

1. Introduction to developmental neuroscience.

2. Developmental neuroanatomy.

3. Gene regulation during neurodevelopment.

4. Neuronal differentiation and stem cells.

5. Axon guidance.

6. Neuronal migration

7. Synapse formation

8. Activity-dependent development: Neuronal plasticity.

9. Developmental neuroendocrinology.

10. Neurodevelopmental disorder including autism and translational neuroscience research. 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Cowan, W. Maxwell, Thomas M. Jessell, and S. Lawrence Zipursky, eds. Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Neural Development. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN: 9780195111668. 

Sanes, Dan H., Thomas A. Reh, and William A. Harris, eds. Development of The Nervous System. Burlington, MA: Academic Press, 2000. ISBN: 9780123003300. 

Susan K. McConnell, James L. Roberts, Nicholas C. Spitzer, and Michael J. Zigmond. Fundamental Neuroscience. 2nd ed. Edited by Larry S. Squire, and Floyd E. Bloom. Burlington, MA: Academic Press, 2002. ISBN: 9780126603033.

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Cell Press snapshot archive : https://www.cell.com/snapshots?code=cell-site

Allen Brain Atlas: http://www.brain-map.org/

TED Talk of Prof. Wendy Chung: https://www.ted.com/talks/wendy_chung_autism_what_we_know_and_what_we_don_t_know_yet

Key words search

Development, Neuroscience, Axon Guidance, Autism