BASIC NEUROSCIENCE
2° YEAR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF SPLIT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
All data are valid for the academic year 2013/2014
PROFESSORS AND ASSOCIATES
• Prof. dr. sc. Zoran Đogaš, MD, PhD; full professor; Head of Department
e-mail: zoran.dogas@mefst.hr, tel. 557-905
Individual consultation: THURSDAY 14,00 - 15,00
• Prof. dr. sc. Ivica Grković, MD, PhD; full professor
e-mail: ivica.grkovic@mefst.hr, tel. 557-803
Individual consultation: WEDNESDAY 13,00 - 14,00
• Prof. dr. sc. Maja Valić, MD, PhD; Head of laboratory
e-mail: maja.valic@mefst.hr, tel. 557-860
Individual consultation: THURSDAY 14,00 - 15,00
• Doc. dr. sc. Renata Pecotić, MD,PhD; Head of educational department
e-mail: renata.pecotic@mefst.hr, tel. 557-857
Individual consultation: THURSDAY 14,00 - 15,00
• dr. sc. Ivana Pavlinac Dodig, MD; research fellow
e-mail: ivana.pavlinac@mefst.hr, tel. 557-862
Individual consultation: THURSDAY 14,00 - 15,00
• Linda Lušić, MS; research fellow
e-mail: linda.lusic@mefst.hr, tel. 557-858
Individual consultation: THURSDAY 14,00 - 15,00
• Marin Šimunić, MD; research fellow
e-mail: linda.lusic@mefst.hr, tel. 557-858
Individual consultation: THURSDAY 14,00 - 15,00


Neuroscience is one of the basic medical sciences studying morphology and function of a
healthy nervous system, with an emphasis on the mechanisms responsible for achieving
its role as a central organism control and management system. This course will introduce
students to and enable them to approach problems in this area using scientific methods.
The aim of the Basic neuroscience course is to teach a student how to use the acquired
knowledge on physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, anatomy, histology and
physiology in acquiring knowledge on the normal function of the nervous system to the
extent necessary for further successful studying.
The Basic neuroscience course lectures will be held during the 4th semester with a total
duration of 115 hours.


Instructional content is divided into two main areas of instruction, and each area will
have a separate written examination, TNZ-A and TNZ-B.
Topics to be covered through lectures, seminars and practical lessons, including an
indication of the prescribed literature, will be announced on the beginning of the course.
Attendance of all forms of instruction is MANDATORY (except the attendance of
individual consultations), and all students are obligated to study the prescribed material
IN ADVANCE for seminars and practical lessons, using the main textbook and/or the
additional literature.
 The course Basic neuroscience is consisted of:
•LECTURES • SEMINARS • PRACTICAL LABORATORY WORK • INDIVIDUAL TEACHING
CONSULTATIONS
CURICCULUM
The course content is divided into six units:
A Basics of neuron electrophysiology
LECTURES
Neuron is a basic structural-functional unit of CNS
The biophysical basics of excitability
SEMINARS
The cell membrane, ion channels, passive and active neuron properties
PRACTICAL WORK
Computational models of the membrane resting potential and the action potential
Computational models of the postsynaptic potential
B Neuroanatomy
LECTURES
Research methods of the CNS structure and the structure of gray and white matter of the spinal cord
SEMINARES
The structure of gray and white matter of the diencephalon, brainstem and cerebellum
PRACTICAL WORK
Appearance and distribution of gray and white matter of the spinal cord, brainstem and cerebellum
Appearance and distribution of gray and white matter of the cerebrum: diencephalon, telencephalon and
the ventricular system of the brain, and the cellular structure of CNS: neurons and glia (histology)
C Intercellular signaling
LECTURES
Signaling mechanisms, signaling molecules and their receptors
SEMINARS
Structure and function of the synapse and the cellular basis of behavior (neuron sequences, pathways,
circles, networks, systems)
Neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and their receptors
PRACTICAL WORK
Signalization, Web site
D Sensory system
LECTURES
Principles of sensory systems organization, types of stimuli and sensory receptors
Olfaction and gustation – chemical senses
Physiology of the eye and phototransduction
SEMINARS
Pain, heat and cold – anterolateral sensory system
Touch, pressure, and kinesthesia - the dorsal column system
Ear - organ of hearing and balance
Auditory and vestibular system
Organization of the retina, primary visual pathway and primary visual cortex
Perception of colours, shapes, depth and movement; and the organization of the associative visual fields
of the cerebral cortex
PRACTICAL WORK
Physiology of sensation
E Motor system
LECTURES
General structure of the motor systems
Role of the motor cortex in voluntary movements
SEMINARES
Spinal motor mechanisms and reflexes
Role of the descending pathways from the brainstem in maintaining posture and muscle tone; spinal
shock
Motor functions of the cerebellum
Motor functions of the basal ganglia
The hypothalamus controls the endocrine and the autonomic nervous system
F General brain functions
LECTURES
Development of the CNS and processes of development reorganization and plasticity
Stages of wakefulness and sleep; Sleep Medicine
Physiology of intracranial pressure and cerebral circulation
The structure of neurotransmitter systems and reticular formation
SEMINARS
General brain function: ascending activating system, EEG, alertness levels and levels of consciousness
Neurobiology of biological rhythms and motivational states
Neurobiology of emotion and sexuality
Neurobiology of attention and association functions of the prefrontal and posterior parietal cortex
Anatomy and psychology of learning and memory
Cellular mechanisms of learning and memory
• LECTURES:
Lecture program for the academic year 2013/2014.
Lecture
P-1
P-2
P-3
Topic
Introductory lecture
Hours
1
Lecturer
Đogaš
Neuron is a basic
structural-functional unit of the CNS
2
Đogaš
CNS research methods
2
Grković
Development of the CNS and
processes of development
reorganization and plasticity
P-4
Peripheral nervous system and
the spinal cord
1
Grković
P-5
Diencephalon and telenchephalon
2
Grković
P-6
Biophysical basics of excitability
2
Đogaš
P-7
Neurotransmitters in health
and disease
2
Đogaš
P-8
General brain function and sleep
2
Đogaš
P-9
Serotonin
2
Valić
P-10
Control of breathing during
wakefulness and during sleep
General organization of the sensory
systems
1
1
Pecotić
Đogaš/Valić
Physiology of the eye and
phototransduction
General structure of
the motor systems
2
Đogaš/Pecotić
Clinical importance and basic research
2
Valić/Pecotić
TOTAL:
22 hours
P-11
P-12
P-13
• SEMINARS:
Seminar program for the academic year 2013/2014
Seminar
Subject
Hours
Chapter* Lecturer
TNZ-A
S1
The structure of gray and white matter
of the spinal cord
(2 hours)
Pavlinac Dodig
The structure of gray and white matter
of the brainstem and cerebellum
(2 hours)
Pavlinac Dodig
The structure of gray and white matter
of the diencephalon
(2 hours)
Pavlinac Dodig
S3A
Telencephalon
(2 hours)
Pavlinac Dodig
S4
Cell membrane, ion channels,
passive and active neuron properties
(2 hours)
6
Valić
S5
Structure and function of the synapse and
the cellular basis of behavior (neuron sequences,
pathways, circles, networks, systems)
(3 hours)
7
Pecotić
S2
S3
S6
Neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and their receptor (3 hours)
8
Đogaš
S6A
Electrophysiology of neurons and types of potential (2 hours)
6-8
Valić/Pecotić
S7
General brain functions; EEG, evoked potentials
S8
Stages of wakefulness and alertness; sleep
S9
Clinical seminar
S10
Pain, heat and cold – anterolateral sensory system
Touch, pressure, and kinesthesia - the dorsal
column system
(2 hours)
15
Valić
S11
Ear - organ of hearing and balance
Auditory and vestibular system
(2 hours)
17
Pecotić
S12
Organization of the retina, primary visual pathway (2 hours)
and primary visual cortex
16
Valić
Đogaš
(2 hours)
(2 hours)
Đogaš
Valić/Pecotić
(2 hours)
TNZ-B
S13
Perception of colors, shapes, depth and movement; (1 hour)
and the organization of associative visual fields
16
Valić
S13A Sensory system
(2 hours)
15-18 Valić/Pecotić
S14
Role of motor cortex in voluntary movements
Eye movement and eye gaze direction system
(2 hours)
19
S15
Spinal motor mechanisms and reflexes
(1 h)
S16
Role of the descending pathways from the
brainstem in maintaining posture and muscle tone;
spinal shock
(1 h)
part of 19
S17
Motor functions of the cerebellum and
the basal ganglia
(2 hours)
20, 21 Pecotić
S17A Motor system
(2 hours)
19-21 Valić/Pecotić
S18
Organization and structure functions
of the limbic system
(1 h)
25
S19
Neurobiology of emotion and sexuality
(2 hours)
S20
Neurobiology of attention and associative functions (2 hours)
of the prefrontal and posterior parietal cortex
Đogaš
S21
Anatomy and psychology of learning and memory (2 hours)
Lušić
S22
Cellular mechanisms of learning and memory
(2 hours)
Đogaš
(2 hours)
Đogaš
S22A General brain function
TOTAL:
part of 15
Valić
Pecotić
Valić
Valić/Pecotić
Lušić
52 hours
The prescribed material must be studied in advance.
The materials are chapters of the textbook by Allan Siegel and Hreday N. Sapru: Essential
Neuroscience, 2nd Edition.
The text for exercise is an Interactive Tutorial by John Huguenard and David A. McCormick:
Electrophysiology of the Neuron, Windows Version

Seminars will be held for all student groups in seminar auditoriums of the new basic
medical sciences building, School of medicine.
All absences and minuses have to be compensated through a colloquium at least 2 days before
the partial exam, if a student decides to take the exam during the same period.
Students not taking the exam in the first examination period, to compensate their absences and
minuses, have to take a colloquium in a 10 days period after the end of the Basic neuroscience
course.
• PRACTICAL LESSONS:
Program of the practical laboratory work for the academic year
2013/2014.
Practical Hours
Title
Chapter
Venue
V1
V2
2
2
Cell structure; Appearance and distribution
of gray and white matter of the spinal cord
and the cerebrum
PAK
MŠ/IPD
Clinical-anatomic syndromes of
the spinal cord (CD-ROM)
I.U.
MŠ/IPD
I.U.
MŠ/IP
V3
2
Review of the CNS structure (CD-ROM)
V3A
3
Telencephalon
(mapping of the nerve pathways in the CNS)
V4
V5
V6
3
Lecturer
MŠ/IPD
Neuron electrophysiology
Resting potential
3
Neuron electrophysiology
Action potential
3
Neuron electrophysiology
Synaptic potential
I.U.
ZĐ/MV/RP
I.U.
ZĐ/MV/RP
I.U.
ZĐ/MV/RP
V7
3
Neuron electrophysiology
Signalization
I.U
MV/RP
*V8
2
PowerLab
EEG and evoked potential
L
ZĐ/MV/RP
*V9
4
V9A
V10
3
3
SleepLab
Polysomnography
SL
ZĐ/MV/RP/IPD/MŠ
SleepLab
Polysomnography report
SL
ZĐ/MV/RP/IPD/MŠ
PowerLab
Physiology of sensation
L
ZĐ/RP/IPD
*V11 2
*V12 3
*V13 3
PowerLab
Muscle and electromyography
PowerLab
Reflexes and reaction time
L
ZĐ/MV/RP
L
PowerLab
Animal neurophysiological research in vivo
L
TOTAL:
41 hours
Lušić
MV/RP/IPD
Practical lessons marked with a star * (V8, V9, V11, V12 i V13) are
organized in multiple groups.
PAK - dissection hall;
I.U. - IT classroom (BSB building; 2nd and 4th floor)
L
- Neuroscience laboratory, 5th floor
SL - Sleep medicine centre (Sleep Lab)
TEXTBOOK AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
OBLIGATORY TEXTBOOK AND PRACTICUM FOR PRACTICAL LESSONS
•Siegel, A. and Sapru, H.: ESSENTIAL NEUROSCIENCE, Wolters Kluwer / Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins
•John Huguenard and David A. McCormick: Electrophysiology of the Neuron, Windows
Version, A Companion to Neurobiology by Gordon Shepard
ADDITIONAL LITERATURE
•Kandel, E.R., Schwartz, J.H. and Jessel, T.M.: PRINCIPLES OF NEURAL SCIENCE, 4th
edition, McGraw-Hill; New York, SAD, 2000.
•Zigmond, MJ et all.: Fundamental Neuroscience, Academic Press; San Diego, SAD, 1999.
•Guyton, A.C. and Hall: MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY, 11th edition. 2006.
Department of neuroscience
School of medicine
University of Split
21 000 Split, Šoltanska 2
phone 021/ 557-858
fax. 021/ 557-955