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  Studiegidsen 2011-2012
Radboud UniversiteitStudiegidsenFaculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen > Research Master Cognitive Neuroscience

Neurobiology of (mal)adaptation 

Neurobiology of (mal)adaptation
(Vakcode)
Course ID
SOW-DGCN33
(Studiepunten)
Credits
6
(Periode)
Scheduled
Objectives (Doelstelling)

This course teaches how the brain and its physiology changes when individuals are challenged by environmental adversity. It covers neural mechanisms of adaptive and maladaptive plasticity; the latter one being critical for the pathophysiology of numerous psychiatric disorders.

Contents (Inhoud / Omschrijving)

The course will kick off with lectures on animal models and human data disclosing adaptive and maladaptive responses to stress. This includes not only intraindividual effects, but also transgenerational transmission of stress effects. In individuals, who are vulnerable by their genetic make-up or by prior experience, stress responses become maladaptive leading to the most important psychiatric disorders like major depression and anxiety disorders. While covering the full translational approach of theme 3 of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and behaviour, special attention will be paid on structural and cognitive neuroimaging in the service of uncovering the neural underpinnings of adaptive behaviour to stress and the pathophysiology of stress-related psychiatric disorders.

Literature (Literatuur)
* Lecture notes
* specific articles will be provided before each lecture
* Relevant chapters from handbooks of affective neuroscience

Representative readings
  • Cerulli F, Alleva E. The NGF saga: From animal models of psychosocial stress to stress-related psychopathology. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology 2009 30:379-395.
  • Gillespie CF, Phifer J, Bradley B, Ressler KJ. Risk and resilience: genetic and environmental influences on development of the stress response. Depress Anxiety 2009 26:984-92.
  • Henckens MJ, Hermans EJ, Pu Z, Joëls M, Fernández G. Stressed memories: how acute stress affects memory formation in humans. J Neurosci 2009 29:10111-9.
  • De Kloet ER, Joels, M, Holsboer, F. Stress and the brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2005 6:463-475.
  • van Eijndhoven P, van Wingen G, van Oijen K, Rijpkema M, Goraj B, Jan Verkes R, Oude Voshaar R, Fernández G, Buitelaar J, Tendolkar I. Amygdala volume marks the acute state in the early course of depression. Biol Psychiatry 2009 65(9):812-8.
  • de Quervain DJ, Kolassa IT, Ertl V, Onyut PL, Neuner F, Elbert T, Papassotiropoulos A. A deletion variant of the alpha2b-adrenoceptor is related to emotional memory in Europeans and Africans. Nat Neurosci 2007 10(9):1137-9.

Teaching methods (Werkvormen)

Lectures and a home work on specific topics. Lectures will be started by the main lecturers. Halfway during the course students will get the possibility to choose in reviewing a topic related to the three main topics that are thought in several lectures by Prof. Fernandez, Dr. Kozicz and Dr. Tendolkar. Student will write a homework on this that will account for 1/3 of the final grade.

Coördinerend docent
Coordinator: I. Tendolkar, lecturers: I. Tendolkar, G. Fernandez, J. Homberg, T. Kozicz, M. Pop, D. Everaerd
Examination (Toetsingsvorm)
Written exam
Exam information (Toetsinformatie)
Written exam, Friday, January 21, 2011; 10.45-12.30
Enrollment ( Inschrijving college )

via STUDENT PORTAL untill 5 working days before the start of the course
Note this course is for CNS students only. Non-CNS students can contact Yvonne Schouten () or Arno Koning ().