Name: The developing brain
Code:
Study points: 6 ECTS

Course Program: Program_devbrain.pdf (1.15 MB)

Period: week 48-51 (26 november – 21 december 2012)

Coordinators: Dr. Ronald van Kesteren, Dr. Hylke Vervaeke

Lecturers: Prof dr. Patrick Sullivan, Prof. dr. Cynthia Bulik, Prof. dr. Rutger Engels, Prof. dr. Philip Scheltens, Prof. dr. Taco de Vries, Dr. Tinca Polderman, Dr. Rhiannon Meredith, Prof. dr. Daniëlle Posthuma, Dr. Sabine Spijker, Dr. Ronald van Kesteren

Goal: This course has the purpose to discuss the various stages of brain development that shape the life of individuals over time.

Course Content: The brain performs differently at various ages; the young brain being very plastic, whereas the aging brain is gradually losing its adaptive capacity. At the same time the growing brain can be affected by developmental diseases and is prone to specific environmental factors, whereas aging diseases easily disturb the adult brain. In this course we will discuss pre- and postnatal brain development. We will focus both on early development in relation to diseases as autism and schizophrenia, as well as on puberty and adolescence, and issues related to this stage of development, such as the effects on the brain of early drug use (alcohol, nicotine). In the aging brain, we will discuss specific diseases of aging, such as progeria and Alzheimer’s, considering the factors that determine lifespan.

Method: Lectures, morphological practicals, scientific writing, workgroups

Literature: Readers, presentations

Testing: Exam (60%), scientific reports (40%). Note that a minimum mark of 5.5 should be obtained for the exam.

Focus Group: Third year bachelor students

Participation: Two years of bachelor education (all directions)

Central Academic Skill: Search databases for relevant scientific literature based on general symptoms of disease and write scientific report