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Excitable cells - cells which respond to stimuli by producing an electric current - are key to the function of our muscles and nervous system. You will learn about the structure and function of these cells, what makes them important and the techniques used to study them.

To consider the major concepts underlying the basis of cell excitability, the structure and function of excitable cells and their contribution to muscle and nervous system function.

At the end of this unit, students will have developed an understanding of what excitable cells are and what makes them important. Key features of how excitable cells maintain and alter their ionic composition in relation to electrochemical gradients will become familiar. Students will understand the techniques used to study excitable cells; in addition, students will become familiar with a variety of cells within the nervous system and how they function, such as sensory and motor neurons and how these relate to muscles. Students will then be able to begin to apply this knowledge in learning about how networks of excitable cells can function together as higher level systems, such as those involved in learning and memory. 
 

Overview. Gross organization of the nervous system. History of neuroscience. Cellular organization of the nervous system. The cytosol, extracellular fluids, membranes. The proteins - ion channels, pumps and transporters. Diffusion, permeability, electricity. Origin of resting membrane potentials. The action potential. Transmission and saltatory conduction. Electrical synapses. Chemical transmission. Electrophysiological techniques such as patch clamping. New research techniques such as fluorescent probes and optogenetics. An introduction to sensory biology, including how the eye functions. A model synapse - the neuromuscular junction.Gross organization of musculature. Cellular structure of muscle. Excitation-contraction coupling in muscle cells.  

Motor disorders; Neurodiversity.

Simple nervous systems: invertebrate learning. Vertebrate nervous systems: learning and memory; language and the brain. 

 

Each week students will complete 1 hour of eLearning content.

90% awarded for the unit examination which will consist of 50 multiple choice questions, in the semester 2 examination period. 10% awarded for online summative multiple choice question-based assessments.

Feedback on coursework MCQs will be provided via the CANVAS MCQ system. Formative feedback will be available via revision reversions of summative assessments and an online version of a past year’s exam paper. Cohort level feedback will be provided after the exam, with individual exam guidance available upon request.

Bear, Connors and Paradiso. 2020. Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain. Enhanced 4th Edition.

Students will be expected to complete 1 eLearning module per week, containing approximately 1 hour of pre-recorded video content or equivalent. Each week there will also be 1 hour of live-lecture content that builds on the eLearning module and a 1 hour face-to-face active learning session. 

The year studying abroad is an integral part of the course and must be completed. Some costs, such as tuition fees, are substantially lower. Other costs can vary and are not included in the tuition fee. For example, living costs may be higher or lower than the UK, and there are travel-related costs to consider, such as paying for a passport, visa fees, health insurance, and (if needed) vaccinations.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's (PDF document, 91KB).

Students participating in placements outside the UK may be able to apply for funding from the depending on eligibility. Priority will be given to students from low income households.