The Developing Brain

Course Objective

Students will learn about neurobiological mechanisms that underlie

normal and aberrant brain development, and that shape the life of

individuals over time.

Course Content

The focus of this course is on phases of brain development that shape
the life of individuals over time. The brain performs differently at
various ages. Whereas the young brain is very plastic, the aging brain
gradually loses its adaptive capacity. Importantly, early and late brain
development are affected by specific genetic factors and vulnerable to
changes induced by environmental stimuli. These alterations can result
in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.

The course consists of three modules (one week per module), each
covering a critical phase of brain development. In module 1, we will
focus on early (prenatal) brain development and its relation to brain
disorders such as autism. In the second module, we will focus on
postnatal brain development and how alterations contribute to issues
during childhood and adolescence, such as gender identity and
schizophrenia. In the last module, we will discuss cognitive decline
associated with normal brain aging as well as specific diseases of
aging, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease. Notably, each module
contains a keynote lecture related to the topic of the module. Keynote
lectures are given by renowned experts in their fields and are mandatory
for all students.

In addition, students will perform a Science in the Media assignment.
Scientific findings are not always accurately covered in main stream
media due to various reasons. The goal of this assignment is that
students learn to critically read and evaluate a media coverage of a
scientific study, and to present their evaluation of the flaws/strengths
of a media article in small groups to their peers.

Additional Information Teaching Methods

Lectures: 30 h
Workgroups: 4 h
Q&A sessions: 3 h
Self study: ~60 - 120 h (in between lectures, students are expected to
spend time on reading of literature to prepare for next
lectures/workgroups and to make assignments on canvas)

Method of Assessment

Exam (E; multiple choice questions and open questions): 80%
Academic skills assignment (A): 20%
The grade of both tests has to be >5.5 to pass the course.

Students have the option to resit the exam (E).

Entry Requirements

This course is part of the minor Brain and Mind. University students
need at least 90 ECTS to be eligible for (courses in) this minor. HBO
students can follow (courses in) this minor if they have at least 120
ETCS.

Literature

Exam material: Slides of all lectures (will become available on Canvas).
Recommended reading material: will become available on
Canvas.
No mandatory literature/books.

Additional Information Target Audience

Students of the minor Brain & Mind.
Third year bachelor students who are interested in the neurobiology of
the brain during prenatal and postnatal development, as well as aging.
Due to curriculum overlap, students from Biomedical Sciences and Health
and Life Sciences from the VU cannot follow this course.

Additional Information

This minor course requires a minimum of 20 participants.

Custom Course Registration

Students are assignment to groups on Canvas

Explanation Canvas

Slides of the lectures and recommended reading material will become
available on Canvas in three modules.
Each module ends with quiz questions about the lectures of that module.
Quizes have to completed by the student to be able to access the next
module.
Keynote lectures will end with an open question that has to be answered
on Canvas. Therefore, the student has to make sure that he/she has
access to Canvas during the keynote lectures.
Students have to upload their Science in the Media assignment to Canvas.

Recommended background knowledge

This course is part of the minor Brain and Mind. A basic understanding
of neurons, neurophysiology and molecular biology (DNA and proteins) is
required. For this, we recommend to follow the courses 'Cognitive
Neuroscience' and 'Nature versus Nurture' of this minor.