Profile: Physiology and Neuroscience

The mechanism of action of drugs is based on an interaction with a target cellular structure in the body, leading to the modulation of its function. Thus, this course unit consists of two main components. The^first component aims to familiarize students with the various modes of cellular communication, the different chemical messengers, their targets, and their modes of action. The second component will aim to provide students with a basic understanding of pharmacology, specifically how drugs work and their fate within the body. To this end, the concepts of pharmacodynamics (ligand-receptor interaction, dose-response relationship) and pharmacokinetics (ADME: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) will be covered. In addition, drug targets, their intracellular signaling, and their therapeutic indications will be discussed.

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The EU course provides an introduction to the key issues surrounding the major diseases affecting the nervous system, whether neurological or psychiatric. These conditions are addressed from a multidisciplinary perspective, ranging from the molecular level to symptoms. This foundational knowledge of neuropathology will serve as a basis for the research areas covered later in the master’s program.

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The course on Muscular and Cardiac Disorders builds on the knowledge gained in the previous semester on cardiovascular physiology to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to cardiac disorders (various arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, heart failure, etc.) and muscular disorders (myopathies, etc.).

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The course on Sensory and Motor Neurophysiology offered in the EU covers, on the one hand, the anatomical and functional organization of the major sensory systems—vision, hearing, and somatosensation. On the other hand, it addresses motor function and its central control at the spinal and supraspinal levels: the brainstem, motor cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia.

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The objective of this course unit is to provide students with fundamental and in-depth knowledge and skills regarding the physiology of the endocrine system. By studying the morphological and functional organization of the endocrine system, students will gain an understanding of the various hormonal systems (endocrine glands, hypothalamic-pituitary axis, reproductive system) and their essential roles in carrying out major physiological functions and maintaining homeostasis.

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