OBIETTIVI FORMATIVI

The purpose of the course is to give an overview of molecular mechanisms that regulate functions in the nervous system with special emphasis on cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate neurotransmission. In particular students receive a detailed information on the generation and propagation of the electrical signal in single neurons up to the complexity of the firing of neurons in network. Mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity, fundamental for higher function such as learning and memory, will be analyzed in details. Moreover thank to the laboratory-activity, the students will learn basic skills in vitro electrophysiology (extra- and intracellular recordings, patch-clamp) and functional imaging techniques. Different recording modes and their advantages and disadvantages will be dealt with. By the end of the course the students should be able to understand the possibilities and the limitations of the different in vitro experimental approaches in neuroscience research and to design experiments in which the techniques are applied in a relevant manner to deal with up to date neurophysiology questions.