• ECTS

    5 credits

  • Component

    Faculty of Science

Description

Behaviors, whether determined by conscious or unconscious processes, are based on complex neurobiological underpinnings, as they are underpinned by molecular and cellular modifications within the nervous system that modulate neural networks responsible for motor and emotional processes that are linked to the individual's memory. These processes are fundamental to allow the organism to elaborate an integrated behavioral response in close interaction with its environment, thus ensuring adaptation and survival of the individual and its species.

The topics covered in the Neurobiology of Behavior EU will include:

-Gene-Behavior

The relationship between genotype and phenotype -Impact of the environment -Attentional processes/Movement planning -Behavioral disorders (genetic and environmental aspects)

-Memory and synaptic plasticity

Methodological approaches to study synaptic plasticity: electrophysiology, optogenetics, animal models, behavioral tests-Regulatory factors of synaptic plasticity including genetics and epigenetics-Plasticity/memory relationship-Neurobiology of memory, forgetting and reconsolidation

-Neurobiology of emotions

Neurobiological substrates of emotions -Functions of emotions -Disadaptation: Pathological aspects: Emotional disorders

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Objectives

The objective of the EU is to:

-To enable students to acquire current knowledge of the molecular, cellular and integrative mechanisms at play in the nervous system that cause certain behaviors.

-To demonstrate that an analysis at different levels (gene, neuron, neural network, behavior) is necessary to understand the functioning of the brain in the development of behaviors. The study of behavioral disorders will also highlight the importance of genetic and environmental factors in the modification of the activation of neuronal processes that cause behavioral maladjustment.

-To develop a scientific argumentation with a critical approach of the experimental results (presentation and analysis of articles and realization of a personal work in the form of scientific presentations approaching the topics treated within the framework of the UE).

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Necessary pre-requisites

Obtaining a degree with neuroscience courses: basic knowledge in Neurobiology/Neurophysiology, Sensoriality and Motor skills

Recommended prerequisites: Knowledge of the major physiological and neurobiological functions.

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Knowledge control

75% written and 25% oral

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Syllabus

Gene and Behavior(10CM)

Relationship between genotype and phenotype

*Definition of genotype and phenotype

*The role of genes on behavior can be studied in animal models.

*The different models of behavioral studies in animals and tests to evaluate executive functions, conditioning and attentional processes

*Complex behaviors are regulated by peptidergic systems with the example of dopamine and oxytocin in social behaviors

*The example of alteration of neurotransmission system and the consequences on the behavior with the High Sensation Seekers (HSS)

*Behaviors are the concomitant activation of neural networks with opposing effects: the theory of opposing processes (from neuropsychology to molecular and cellular neurobiology).

Gene-environment relationship:

*Epigenetic mechanisms at the neuron level to regulate gene expression. Physiological approaches

*Influence of sensory experiences on the expression of behaviors with the example of pain and pharmacological substances

*Notion of transmission to offspring of new and enduring character traits conferring adaptation but also vulnerability (Meanney MJ experiment)

Attentional processes/Movement planning

*Description of attentional processes

*Top-down and bottom-up studies*Theories on attentional processes

*Neurobiological support of attentional processes

*Description of the superior controls of movement and their interaction with attentional processes

*Behavioral disorders (genetic and environmental aspects) with the example of attentional disorders (ADD/ADHD).

Memory and synaptic plasticity(7CM)

Methodological approaches for the study of synaptic transmission and plasticity:

*Electrophysiological and optogenetic approaches

*In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models.

*Spontaneous and evoked synaptic transmission.

*Structure and function of glutamate and GABA receptors.

*Triggering of synaptic plasticity phenomena.

Synaptic plasticity in the rodent hippocampus:

*Central role of the hippocampus in declarative memory in humans

*Cellular and molecular mechanisms of plasticity consolidation

*Relationship between synaptic plasticity and memory

*Behavioral tests

*Regulation of plasticity by genomic and epigenetic actions

*Models of genetic diseases associated with mental retardation (Rett, fragile X)

Other animal models:

*Memory in insects: bee model and olfactory conditioning

*Synaptic elasticity and memory in aplysia

Memory Reconsolidation Mechanisms:

*Molecular mechanisms and identification

*Human therapy

Neurobiology of Emotions (7 CM)

Introduction:

*Defining emotions: emotional experience/expression

*To take into account the difficulties posed by the scientific study of emotions: subjectivity; link experience/expression; specificity

*Presentation of the main theories of emotions

Neurobiological substrates of emotions:

*Integrate knowledge into a historical context

*The different experimental approaches used to study the anatomical supports of emotions: lesions / stimulations / intra cerebral recordings / clinical case observation / imaging (interests and limits)

*The main structures and circuits involved: hypothalamus, structures of the Papez circuit, structures of the limbic system, amygdala nuclei, thalamus, septum, striatum, structures of the reward circuit, orbitofrontal cortex, insula, somatic markers (Damasio).

*Emotions come from the network rather than from the activation of localized brain structures (niF data + machine learning)

Functions of emotions:

*Emotions and communication (empathy/mirror neurons) *Emotions and motivation (reward circuit structures)

*Emotions and cognition

-Emotions and memory: e.g. influence of emotions on episodic memory/learned fear (Joseph Ledoux)

-Emotions and decision making (Antonio Damasio)

*Emotions and coping:

-General adaptation syndrome-Homeostasis/allostasis/pathology

-Complexity of the stress response/psychobiological personality

Examples of environmental factors influencing the response to stress (age, peri-natal influences, social status, cognitive evaluation...): reflections developed around experimental data: notion of inter-individual variability and vulnerability

Disadaptation: Pathological aspects: Emotional disorders: examples of anxiety and phobic disorders (PTSD, panic disorder, phobias, OCD, GA):

*Definition/ symptoms/ neuropathological processes

*Pharmacology of anxiety disorders (examples of pharmacotherapies targeting Gabaergic and 5HT neurotransmissions) *Paradoxes illustrating the complexity of the relations between mental states and brain states/ the double bind.

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