Neurophysiology of sensory perception

Course objectives

Aim of the course is to provide the students with general principles on the structure and function of sensory receptors, on the specific features of each sensory organ and on the integration mechanisms of sensory information at both the perypheral and central level. Knowledge and understanding The student: - Knows the terminology of the physiology of the nervous system; - Knows the cellular and molecular bases of biological systems and physiological processes; - Knows the mechanisms and the different levels of control of the physiology of neurons; - Knows the basic techniques for the study at the cellular and molecular level of cells and higher level structures of the nervous system. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding The student: - Knows how to correctly use the terminology specific to the study of the nervous system; - Will be able to orientate itself in the understanding and the design of experimental approaches to the study of neuronal functions; - is able to apply the knowledge on techniques for the study of the nervous system to design a laboratory experiment.

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MAURO GIORGI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Sensory systems and sensory perception. General features of sensory receptors: post synaptic graded potential, intensity of stimulus/receptor response, adaptation, inhibition. Touch receptors. Cellular and molecular basis of itch. Chemioreception: taste and olfaction. Cellular mechanisms of flavour perception. The taste of fat. Olfactory apparatus, olfactory sensory neurons. Olfactory receptors, odorants, transduction of odour perception. Adaptation and sensitization. The olfactory bulb. Synaptic organization in the glomeruli. Excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the glomerulus. Central olfactory pathways. Sound, frequency and intensity. Anatomy of the ear. Outer, medium and inner ear. Organ of Corti. Equilibrium, otolytes, ciliate cells. Light. Eye and vision. Structure of a Vertebrate eye. Organization of retinal cell layers. Rods and cones. Signal transduction in the visual system. Dark current in retinal photoreceptors. Rhodopsin, color vision. Inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms in vertebrate retina. Center ON and center OFF cells. Role of melatonin in retinal physiology. Development, differentiation and stabilization of retinal circuits. Somato-sensory pathways, pain, reflexes, stretch receptors.
Prerequisites
Students should have at least attended the lectures of the following courses: "Neurofisiologia cellulare" and "Neurobiologia dello sviluppo".
Books
- Wolfe J.M., Kluender K.M., Levi D.M., Bartoshuk L.M., Herz R.S., Klatzky R.L., Lederman S.J. “Sensazione e percezione”, I edizione italiana sulla II edizione inglese, Zanichelli. - Wolfe J.M., Kluender K.M., Levi D.M., Bartoshuk L.M., Herz R.S., Klatzky R.L., Lederman S.J., Merfeld D.M. “Sensation & Perception”, Fourth edition, Sinauer Associates, Inc. - Kandel E.R., Schwartz J.H., Jessell T.M. “ Principi di neuroscienze”, IV edizione italiana, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. - Silverthorn D.U. “Fisiologia umana. Un approccio integrato”, VI edizione, Pearson. Capitolo 10 “Fisiologia sensoriale”; Capitolo 11 “Vie efferenti: il sistema nervoso autonomo e il sistema motorio somatico”. - Hill R. et al. “Fisiologia animale”, Zanichelli. Capitolo 13 “I processi sensoriali”. - Sherwood L. “Fisiologia umana. Dalle cellule ai sistemi”, Zanichelli. Capitolo 5 “Il sistema nervoso centrale”; Capitolo 6 “Il sistema nervoso periferico: divisione afferente; sensi specifici”; Capitolo 7 “Il sistema nervoso periferico: divisione efferente”.
Exam mode
At the end of the course there is one oral examination.
  • Lesson code1047695
  • Academic year2024/2025
  • CourseNeurobiology
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDBIO/09
  • CFU6
  • Subject areaDiscipline del settore biomedico