Date
October 12 – 16
Duration
40 hrs / 1.4 ECTs
Location
NIN, VU, Erasmus MC, UvA
Organizer
Rogier Min & Maarten Kole
This course provides an introduction to experimental approaches in cellular neurophysiology. Lectures and demonstrations cover neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, and electrophysiological techniques including patch-clamp and in vivo recordings. Participants gain an overview of how electrical activity of neurons is investigated in experimental research.
Topics will include: – Describe state-of-the-art electrophysiological principles and methods – Indicate which electrophysiological techniques are suitable for answering research questions (single channel, single cell, network, in vivo) – Critically evaluate research papers containing electrophysiological recordings, formulate questions about methodology and interpretation, and discuss these. – Generate ideas about how electrophysiological techniques can enrich their research, and which techniques are most suitable.
The following topics will be covered during the course: – Principles of neuronal excitability – Cable theory and Action Potentials – Neuron modelling – In vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recordings – Synaptic transmission and plasticity – In vivo recordings (patch-clamp, juxtacellular recording, single-unit recording) – Optogenetics
The course is open to all ONWAR PhD students. A solid background in general neuroscience is expected. However, we specifically encourage students with limited experience with / knowledge of experimental neurophysiology to apply. Background reading will be distributed several weeks before the course starts, with the aim to reduce the often large differences in background knowledge between students.
