Course catalogue doctoral education - VT24

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Title Brain Development and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Course number 5535
Programme Neurovetenskap
Language English
Credits 1.5
Date 2022-05-16 -- 2022-05-20
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. We will focus on cortical brain development, social-cognitive, sensory 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 (e.g., gut microbiome) 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 the impact of some genetic and environmental factors (e.g., gut microbiota) on cortical development.
3) Describe key cognitive deficits among neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ADHD and ASD).
4) Describe some genetic and environmental animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders
Contents of the course Part I: Fundamentals of Developmental Neurobiology
1. Early brain development, construction of neural circuits, and modification of neural circuits by the environment.
2. Genetic control of cortical development
3. Effects of gut microbiota on brain development and behavior
4. Genetic and environmental animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ASD, ADHD)

Part II: Functional Brain development in humans
1. Perceptual-motor development in children and the impact of early life experiences
2. The early development of executive function and its relation to social interaction
3. Working memory, and training induced plasticity

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 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.

All intended learning outcomes must be achieved in order to pass the course.
Literature and other teaching material Recommended literature:

Neurodevelopmental Disorders 1st Edition. 2020. Editors in Chief: John Rubenstein Pasko Rakic
Editors: Bin Chen Kenneth Kwan

Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience) 1st Edition. 1999. Helen Tager-Flusberg (Editor)

The organizers of the course will also 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) start date of doctoral studies (priority given to earlier start date)
More information Lectures will be given by international and KI neuroscientists who have made significant contributions to the study of brain development and behavior. The course will be given at Karolinska Institutet Campus Solna and/or on Zoom. Time: 9.00-17.00 (Monday to Friday).
Additional course leader Organizer: Rochellys Diaz Heijtz (rochellys.heijtz@ki.se) Co-organizer: Janina Neufeld (janina.neufeld@ki.se)
Latest course evaluation Not available
Course responsible Rochellys Diaz Heijtz
Institutionen för neurovetenskap
08-52487886
Rochellys.Heijtz@ki.se

Biomedicum D8

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