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Title Brain development and Neurodevelopmental disorders
Course number 2605
Programme Neurovetenskap
Language English
Credits 1.5
Date 2017-09-18 -- 2017-09-22
Responsible KI department Institutionen för neurovetenskap
Specific entry requirements Background in medicine, biomedicine, neuroscience or psychology.
Purpose of the course The purpose of the course is to introduce the students to common neurodevelopmental disorders and current animal model systems used in this field. In particular, we will focus on cortical brain development, social-cognitive and motor development in typically developing children and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cerebral palsy (CP). In addition, the role of both genetic and environmental factors in the etiology and/or pathophysiology of these disorders will be discussed. During the course, students will learn to critically evaluate and explain in presentations the content of original articles.
Intended learning outcomes
After the course students should be able to:

1) Describe fundamental neurodevelopmental processes (e.g. neurogenesis, neuronal migration, synaptogenesis).

2) Describe genetic and molecular mechanisms controlling cortical development.

3) Describe cognitive deficits among neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ADHD and ASD).

4) Postulate potential genetic /molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits in children with neurodevelopmental disorders

Contents of the course Course Curriculum

Part I: Fundamentals of Developmental Neurobiology

1. Early brain development, construction of neural circuits, and modification of neural circuits as a result of experience
2. Genetic control of cortical development
3. Effects of sex hormones on brain development

Part II: Functional Brain development in humans

1. Age-Related Changes in executive function (e.g., working memory)
2. Working memory, and training induced plasticity
3. The molecular genetics of executive function

Part III: Neurodevelopmental Aspects of Clinical Disorders

1. The neurobiology and genetics of ADHD
2. Advances in the Cognitive Neuroscience of ASD
3. Childhood psychiatric disorders as anomalies in neurodevelopmental trajectories
Teaching and learning activities A variety of teaching and learning strategies are presented during the course to facilitate students learning. These strategies include short lectures, small group discussions, computer-based learning, and problem based learning. At the beginning of the course, students will be assigned into different working group themes e.g., ADHD and ASD. These groups will work together throughout the course and prepare for the final oral presentation.
Compulsory elements All lectures and seminars are mandatory. In order to make up for absence of a particular lecture, the students will be required to read specific chapters from the recommended literature and write a short report.
Examination During the course there will be formative assessments to give students immediate feedback about their learning process during the different milestones of the course and clarify any questions relating to the final assessment.
The summative examination will consist of an oral group presentation focusing on cognitive deficits found in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. ADHD and ASD) and the potential genetic / molecular mechanisms underlying these deficits.
To pass the course it has to be shown that all the intended learning outcomes of the course are reached.
Literature and other teaching material Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience by Mark. H. Johnson (2010)

Neuroscience, Fifth Edition, Dale Purves, George J. Augustine, David Fitzpatrick, William C. Hall, editors (2012)

Note: The organizers of the course will e-mail various review articles related to the lectures, as PDF files to the
students.
Number of students 15 - 30
Selection of students Selection will be based on 1) the relevance of the course syllabus for the applicant's doctoral project (according to written motivation), 2) date for registration as a doctoral student (priority given to earlier registration date)
More information Location: Tellus Seminar Room, Retzius Lab Floor 5, Scheeles v. 1, Karolinska Institutet (Solna Campus) Full Time: Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm We plan to have several well-known clinicians and psychologists from the Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital and KIND.
Additional course leader
Latest course evaluation Course evaluation report
Course responsible Rochellys Diaz Heijtz
Institutionen för neurovetenskap
08-52487886
Rochellys.Heijtz@ki.se

Biomedicum D8

17177
Stockholm
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