Course Identification

Introduction to human chronobiology, sleep and sleep dependent modulation of cognitive processes
20193211

Lecturers and Teaching Assistants

Dr. Maria Korman
N/A

Course Schedule and Location

2019
First Semester
Monday, 13:15 - 16:00, WSoS, Rm A
05/11/2018

Field of Study, Course Type and Credit Points

Life Sciences: Lecture; Elective; 3.00 points
Life Sciences (Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Track): Lecture; Elective; 3.00 points
Life Sciences (Brain Sciences: Systems, Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Track): Lecture; Elective; 3.00 points
Life Sciences (Computational and Systems Biology Track): Lecture; Elective; 3.00 points

Comments

No lecture on 6/1/2019

Prerequisites

Basic neurobiology

Restrictions

22

Language of Instruction

English

Attendance and participation

Required in at least 80% of the lectures

Grade Type

Numerical (out of 100)

Grade Breakdown (in %)

20%
40%
40%

Evaluation Type

Final assignment

Scheduled date 1

18/02/2019
N/A
-
The final assignment should be submitted by 18.02.

Estimated Weekly Independent Workload (in hours)

1.5

Syllabus

Circadian rhythms influence all of our life activities, most notably getting up and going to sleep every day. This course will cover: a) introduction to the science of chronobiology and sleep; b) role of circadian processes in human cognition and memory. The course will address fundamental properties of circadian oscillators and circadian clock behavioural manifestations in animal models and humans.

1. Fundamental properties of circadian rhythms

What is a circadian rhythm?

Anatomical, genetic and molecular basis of circadian clocks

Light-induced entrainment of circadian rhythms

2. Neurobiology of Sleep and Wakefulness

What is sleep? Recognition of sleep states; normal sleep patterns and the sleep cycle, Basic neurochemistry and endocrinology of sleep

Methods of sleep recording and analysis (EEG, PSG, actigraphy; questionnaires); normal human sleep, NREM and REM.

Functions of sleep

Sleep & aging

3. Circadian Rhythms, Modern life, Health and Cognition - We are the cave men

Light pollution, shift-work, social jet-lag, diet, urban environment - impacts on circadian physiology, human health and cognition

Role of chronotype, sleep and circadian behavior in learning and memory

Presentation of selected research papers on sleep, cognition and memory

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course the students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate familiarity with core concepts in circadian rhythms and sleep.
  2. Read, discuss and evaluate current research articles in the field of chronobiology, sleep and memory. Each student or a pair of students will present a selected paper in the class.
  3. Choose a particular area of circadian clock study of their interest, write a short research proposal on the topic and present it in the class. Collaboration by two-three students is encouraged.  

Reading List

1. Chronobiology: biological timekeeping. Edited by Jay C. Dunlap, Jennifer J. Loros, Patricia J. DeCoursey.

2. Circadian Physiology. 3rd Edition, by Roberto Refinetti, 2016, CRC Press

3. Why we Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, by Matthew Walker, 2017, Simon & Schuster

4. List of papers for presentation and discussion will be provided during the course.

Website

N/A