Advanced Neuroscience Courses, Summer 2016Italian Alps: Abbazia di Novacella, Südtirol Non-Coding RNA in Brain Plasticity and Disease
Coordinator: André Fischer (Germany) Faculty: T. Bredy, N. Rajewski, M, Wood et al. Non-coding RNA’s are functional RNA molecules, transcribed from DNA but not translated into proteins, that play key roles in nervous system and regulate not only developmental processes but also neuronal plasticity and memory function. Also, ncRNA have been implicated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases and may represent substrates for novel therapeutic approaches. In addition, circulating ncRNA may be used as biomarker for CNS diseases.Find out more
Coordinator: Michael Fanselow (USA) Faculty: D. Anderson, R. Sullivan, B. Balleine et al. How are fundamental properties common to emotional states, such as arousal, fear, appettive learning, motivation, fear, fear memory and trauma experiences encoded in the circuitry and chemistry of the brain? How do these internal states combine with sensory stimuli to elicit specific emotional behaviors, such as fear or aggression? Modern molecular genetic tools, combined with electrophysiology and functional imaging to measure activity in neural circuits, have helped begin to mark, map, and manipulate specific circuits and determine how identifiable populations of neurons contribute in a causal manner to emotional behavior. Find out more
Coordinator: Pierre-Marie Lledo (France) Co-coordinator: S. Mazmanian – Faculty: J. Cryan, E. Mayer, M. Schwarz, P. Sassone-Corsi et al. Recent studies have started to reveal that microbes not only impact disease pathogenesis but they appear also as key compounds that shape neurophysiological development and function. The striking diversity and significance of beneficial and reciprocal interactions between the mammalian host and gut microbial species have sparked efforts to understand not only the identity and the roles played by the microbiota, but also how such interactions with the central and peripheral nervous systems are established and evolved over time. This Advanced Course will cover topics related to host-microbial interactions and will address the question of the nature of signals exchanged between host and microbiota, during both health and diseases. Find out more
Coordinator: Andres M. Lozano (Canada) Co-coordinator: J. Volkman – Faculty: A. Kühn, C. McIntyre, D. Denys et al. There is emerging awareness that malfunction in brain circuits, characterized by abnormal patterns of activity and oscillations, is responsible for many of the signs and symptoms of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is being used to modulate the activity of neural circuits in an increasing number of disorders. Despite its widespread use in over 100,000 patients, the mechanism of action through which DBS exerts its effects is largely unknown. There are effects at cellular, molecular and network levels. The issue of whether DBS acts primarily by suppressing or inhibiting circuits is more complex than was originally considered and this Advanced Course will cover the most important and controversial issues in the development of DBS. Find out more
Coordinator: Giulio Tononi (USA) Faculty: C. Koch, N. Schiff, H. Blumenfeld et al. Neuroscience has made great progress in relating the behavioral and neural correlates of consciousness. Yet it has proven hard to establish which neural structures and modes of activity are necessary and sufficient for being conscious. Moreover, empirical studies are inadequate to assess the presence and quality of consciousness in difficult cases, such as certain unresponsive patients, newborn infants, animals with behaviors and brains unlike ours, or machines that approximate our cognitive abilities. To make headway, empirical studies must be complemented by a fundamental theory of what consciousness is and what it takes to have it. Lectures and discussions will cut across multiple areas of consciousness studies and will feature dedicated sessions addressing important emerging topics. Emphasis will be placed on cutting-edge methods and theories for understanding consciousness, and on how neurological and neurophysiological investigations can shed light on the nature of consciousness and its disorders. Find out more |
