Neurophysiology

Organizational schemes and the evolution of the nervous system. Hormonal and neural regulation of the organism. Nervous systems of vertebrates and humans. Structure and functional properties of neurons and glia cells. Cell membrane and excitability. Principles, generation, and spreading of membrane potentials. Electrical and chemical synapses. Synaptic potentials and integration of information in the synapse. Synaptic plasticity. Transmitters, modulators and pharmacology of synapses. Neural networks. Principles of sensory receptor function. Sensory transduction, information encoding, receptor potential and adaptation. Receptive fields. Taste and smell. Photoreception, spatial and colour vision. Detection of mechanical stimuli. Hearing and balance. Motor system. Smooth, cardiac and skeletal muscle. Principles of muscle contraction, work and energy metabolism in muscle contraction. Muscle capacity and constraints, fatigue and recovery. Fundamentals of physiological adaptations.