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Molecular and Physiological Neurobiology

Code: 45418
Credits: 9
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Neurosciences OB 1
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine OP 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Arnaldo Javier Parra Damas
Email :
arnaldo.parra@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Alfredo Jesús Miñano Molina
Marcel Jimenez Farrerons
Roser Masgrau Juanola
Miguel Martin Sanchez
Jordi Ortiz De Pablo
Carlos Alberto Saura Antolin
Montserrat Solé Piñol
Ruben Lopez Vales
Clara Penas Perez
Guillermo Garcia Alias
Xavier Navarro Acebes

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

B2 English level. Part of the classes and some of the materials will be given in English, so a good level of this language is mandatory (B2 or higher).

Bachelor's degree in the biosciences field or similar (Biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, genetics, biomedical sciences, medicine, veterinary, pharmacy, psychology...).

Knowledge about neuroanatomy is highly recommended. Background in biochemistry and physiology is expected.

Objectives

The main goal of the module is to learn the chemical, cellular and functional characteristics of the central and peripheral nervous system in order to reach a basic knowledge of Neurosciences, to be able to understand any field in neurosciences and the bases of the pathologies of the nervous system.

The main objective of the module is to learn the chemical, cellular and functional characteristics of the central and peripheral nervous system, in order to acquire basic knowledge of neuroscience that allows understanding different areas of neurobiology and the basis of pathologies of the nervous system.

Learning outcomes

Neurosciences
  • CA04 (Explain the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying diseases of the nervous system to an audience specialised in molecular neurobiology and cellular physiology as well as to a lay audience.) Explain the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying diseases of the nervous system to an audience specialised in molecular neurobiology and cellular physiology as well as to a lay audience.
  • CA05 (Relate the knowledge acquired about the neuropharmacology of chemical synapses to the pathology of the nervous system.) Relate the knowledge acquired about the neuropharmacology of chemical synapses to the pathology of the nervous system.
  • CA06 (Compare the physiological and molecular substrates underlying the various pathologies of the nervous system.) Compare the physiological and molecular substrates underlying the various pathologies of the nervous system.
  • KA04 (Recognise the nervous system as a means of integration and communication between distant areas of the organism.) Recognise the nervous system as a means of integration and communication between distant areas of the organism.
  • KA05 (Define the normal physiological processes and molecular alterations in the nervous system.) Define the normal physiological processes and molecular alterations in the nervous system.
  • KA06 (Indicate the basis of therapeutic treatments for pathologies of the nervous system.) Indicate the basis of therapeutic treatments for pathologies of the nervous system.
  • SA04 (Analyse the molecular mechanisms operating in the central and peripheral nervous systems of living organisms.) Analyse the molecular mechanisms operating in the central and peripheral nervous systems of living organisms.
  • SA05 (Determine the physiological processes that take place in the nervous system under normal conditions and their pathological manifestations in physiological and molecular contexts.) Determine the physiological processes that take place in the nervous system under normal conditions and their pathological manifestations in physiological and molecular contexts.
  • SA06 (Distinguish the components of the chemical synapse in the context of the receptor-, transporter- and enzyme-based pharmacology involved in the synthesis and degradation of neurotransmitters.) Distinguish the components of the chemical synapse in the context of the receptor-, transporter- and enzyme-based pharmacology involved in the synthesis and degradation of neurotransmitters.
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine
  • CA17 (Explain the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying diseases of the nervous system.) Explain the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying diseases of the nervous system.
  • CA18 (Relate the knowledge acquired about the neuropharmacology of the chemical synapse with the pathology of the nervous system.) Relate the knowledge acquired about the neuropharmacology of the chemical synapse with the pathology of the nervous system.
  • CA19 (Compare the physiological and molecular substrates underlying the various pathologies of the nervous system.) Compare the physiological and molecular substrates underlying the various pathologies of the nervous system.
  • KA25 (Recognise the nervous system as a means of integration and communication between distant areas of the body.) Recognise the nervous system as a means of integration and communication between distant areas of the body.
  • KA26 (Define normal physiological processes and molecular alterations of the nervous system.) Define normal physiological processes and molecular alterations of the nervous system.
  • KA27 (Describe the foundations of therapeutic treatments for pathologies of the nervous system.) Describe the foundations of therapeutic treatments for pathologies of the nervous system.
  • SA25 (Analyse the molecular mechanisms that operate in the central and peripheral nervous systems of living organisms.) Analyse the molecular mechanisms that operate in the central and peripheral nervous systems of living organisms.
  • SA26 (In a molecular context, determine the physiological processes in the nervous system under normal and pathological conditions.) In a molecular context, determine the physiological processes in the nervous system under normal and pathological conditions.
  • SA27 (Identify the parts of the chemical synapse in the context of pharmacology based on receptors, transporters, and enzymes involved in the synthesis and degradation of neurotransmitters.) Identify the parts of the chemical synapse in the context of pharmacology based on receptors, transporters, and enzymes involved in the synthesis and degradation of neurotransmitters.

Contents

PROGRAM:

Molecular and Physiological Neurobiology (Module 2)


• Principles of neurotransmission and receptor pharmacology (Dr Parra Damas). 2h

General characteristics of synapses and chemical neurotransmission

General concepts on receptor pharmacology: Specificity and multiplicity of neurotransmitter action

Agonists and antagonists

Interaction ligand-receptor and associated responses: affinity and EC50


• Electrical phenomena of neurons (Dr Jiménez Farrerons). 2h

Ionic transport across cell membrane

Active transport, Ionic channels, transmembrane resting potential

Action potential: generation and propagation

Production of pulse trains. Stimulus / frequency relation


• Signal transduction mechanisms (Dra Masgrau). 4h

Receptors directly/indirectly linked to ionic channels

Structure and pharmacological sites of action

Receptors linked to G proteins

Receptors with tyrosine kinase activity


• Histaminergic neurotransmission (Dr Ortiz). 2h

Metabolism of histamine

Pharmacology of histamine receptors


• Excitatory and inhibitory aminoacid neurotransmission (Dr Miñano). 4h

Metabolism of glutamate and other excitatory amino acids

Pharmacology of glutamate receptors

Ionotropic and metabotropic receptors

GABA metabolism, GABA receptors pharmacology

Glycine receptors


• Dopaminergic neurotransmission (Dr Ortiz). 2h

• Purinergic neurotransmission (Dr Saura). 2h

Metabolism of adenosine and purine nucleotides

Pharmacology of purinergic receptors


• Cholinergic neurotransmission (Dra Solé). 2h

Metabolism of acetylcholine

Functional aspects of cholinergic neurotransmission

Pharmacology of cholinergic receptors


• Serotoninergic neurotransmission (Dr Miguel Martín). 1'5h

Metabolism of serotonin

Pharmacology of serotonin receptors

Monoaminergic hypothesis of depression


• Noradrenergic neurotransmission (Dr Miguel Martín).1'5h


• Somatosensory systems (Dr López Vales). 4h

Introduction to sensory physiology

Sensory receptors

Sensory pathways coding

Central integration and sensory information transduction

Somatic sensitivity to touch, kinesthesia, thermal, pain, and visceral


• Special Senses (Dr Penas). 4h

Taste sensitivity: Receptors, sensations, pathways and centralconnections

Olfactory sensitivity: Receptors, sensations, pathways and central connections

Hearing sensitivity

Vestibular sensitivity

Optic sensitivity


• Motor systems (Dr García-Alias). 6h

Excitation and muscle contraction

Functional structure of striatalmuscle fibers

Electrical phenomena.

Neuro-muscular transmission

Mechanisms of muscle contraction in striatal and smooth fibers

Segmentary control of movement and posture

Motor Unit Segmentary reflex Gamma-motor system

Propiospinal control circuits

Suprasegmentary control of movement and posture Motor cerebral cortex

Basal ganglia

Motor centers of brainstem Cerebellum


• Autonomic nervous system (Dr Navarro). 3h

Efferent systems

Hypothalamus. Functional organization and multi-systemic control Limbic system and cerebral cortex

Autonomic regulationof visceral functions


• Integrative functions in the brain (Dr Navarro). 1h

Electrical brain activity

Biological rhythms

Functional organization of neocortex Language


• Practical sessions.

Nerve conduction and channels (Dr Jiménez Farrerons). 2h

Electromyography (Dr Navarro). 2h


• Integrative Seminars.

Dr Alfredo J. Miñano

Dra Roser Masgrau

Dr Arnaldo Parra Damas

Dr Guillermo García-Alías

Dr Clara Penas

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Clases teóricas 42 1.68
Autonomous study 106 4.24
Laboratory sessions 4 0.16
Integrative seminars 11 0.44
Seminar preparation 42 1.68
Work preparation 15 0.6

A combination of lectures and study of scientific articles will cover the most relevant topics. Students are expected to supplement these sessions with readings of additional scientific articles and book chapters. Students must acquire the knowledge required to pass the exam through independent study.


Laboratory sessions will allow students to acquire theoretical concepts through hands-on activities. Practical sessions will be assessed through group work or a short evaluation at the end of the session.


Integrated seminars will require students to study an article in detail, which will then be discussed in a seminar. To understand the article, students must integrate the knowledge from the program and apply it to the research contained in the paper.


Note: Fifteen minutes of one class period, within the schedule established by the center or degree program, will be reserved for students to complete the evaluation surveys of the teaching staff and the course or module.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Integrative seminars assessment 15 0.8 0.032 CA04, CA05, CA06, CA17, CA18, CA19, KA04, KA05, KA06, KA25, KA26, KA27, SA04, SA05, SA06, SA25, SA26, SA27
Examen escrito 1a parte 35 2 0.08 CA04, CA05, CA06, CA17, CA18, CA19, KA04, KA05, KA06, KA25, KA26, KA27, SA04, SA05, SA06, SA25, SA26, SA27
Written exam 2nd part 35 2 0.08 CA04, CA05, CA06, CA17, CA18, CA19, KA04, KA05, KA06, KA25, KA26, KA27, SA04, SA05, SA06, SA25, SA26, SA27
Laboratory sessions 15 0.2 0.008 CA05, CA18, KA04, KA05, KA25, KA26, SA04, SA05, SA25, SA26

To pass the module, students must obtain a minimum final grade of 5 (out of 10). Two written exams will each account for 35% of this grade (students need a minimum of 4 on each exam to have their grade averaged). The remaining 30% of the grade will be assessed in practical sessions (through group work or a short assessment at the end of the practical session) and in integrated seminars (through student participation in the seminars and a short assessment at the end of the session). To be eligible to take the recovery exam, students must have been previously assessed in a set of activities whose weighting is equivalent to at least two-thirds of the total grade for the subject or module. Students will receive a grade of "Not Evaluated" when the completed assessment activities account for less than one-third of the final grade.


Important: Any irregularity in an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or misuse of AI) that could lead to a significant change in the grade will result in a grade of 0 for that assessment. If the course syllabus stipulates that a minimum grade on this assessment is a prerequisite for passing the course, or if multiple irregularities occur in different assessments of the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. Furthermore, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities. The use of AI tools in assessable activities is not permitted unless expressly authorized in the course syllabus. If plagiarism is detected in any submitted work, the student may fail the entire module.

Bibliography

Kandel E. Principles of Neural Science.Sixth edition, McGraw Hill, 2021.


Purves D. Neuroscience, Oxford University Press USA, 6th ed. 2017 / 7th ed.2023.


Waxman S. MolecularNeurology. Academic Press, 2014 (eBook).


Cooper JR. The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology, 8th ed. Oxford Univ Press, 2002.


Pratt WB, P Taylor. Principles of Drug Action.Churchill Livingstone, New York 1990.


Ritter J. Rang & Dale's Pharmacology. 10th ed. Elsevier, 2023.


Siegel GJ. Basic Neurochemistry, 8th ed.Academic Press, 2012.

Software

Tutors will providethe required software.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 English first semester morning-mixed
(PLABm) Practical laboratories (master) 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(SEMm) Seminars (master) 1 English first semester morning-mixed
(PLABm) Practical laboratories (master) 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEMm) Seminars (master) 2 English first semester morning-mixed