Neurobiology

Wiring of the nervous system. Neurogenesis, migration, specificity. Signals from target cells. How 20.000 genes specify 10^14 connections?
When the nerve meets the muscle: architecture, assembly, remodeling, and signaling of the neuromuscular junction. Dysfunction of the neuromuscular junction.
Wiring of the visual system.

Functional relevance of glycoconjugates in the physiology and pathology of the nervous system.
Metabolism, traffic and cellular topology of glycoconjugates in neural cells. Glycoconjugates in synaptic function, in neuron-glia communication, in myelin formation and stabilization. Altered glycoconjugates metabolism and functions in neurogenerative and demyelinating diseases.

Formation and structure of synapses. Synaptic mechanisms. Organization of the presynaptic compartment.
Structure and functions of glutamate receptors.
Postsynaptic molecular organization: proteic complexes associated to glutamate receptors. (NMDAR, AMPAR, KAR e mGluRs) Dendritic spines: structure, modulation and function.
Mechanisms of synaptic plasticity

Electric signals of the nerve cells. Membrane potential. Excitable membranes and voltage-dependent ion channels. Different kinds of action potentials. Long distance conduction of the nerve impulses. Integrative functions of the neurons.
Sensation. Receptors and receptive fields. Peripheral and central processing of somatic sensation.
Pain perception and analgesia: nociceptors, structures and pathways of nociceptive sensations, hyperalgesia and sensitization, noxious inhibitory system, placebo effect.
Vision. Physiology of the retina, photo transduction, color vision, perception of light intensity and light adaptation, visual acuity. Parallel Streams of Information from Retina to Cortex, visual field, geniculate neurons, Striate Cortex and Extrastriate Visual Areas, information processing in the cortical neurons, Columnar Organization, binocular convergence, deepness, colors, and pattern recognition.
Movement and hierarchical organization of motor control. Reflexes and automatisms in human. Control of posture. Voluntary movements.
Emotion and limbic system. Hypothalamus and hypophysis.
Formation of cerebral circuits. Modification of the cerebral circuits as a result of experience.
Learning and memory: habituation, sensitization, Classic conditioning and operant conditioning, cellular bases and animal models. Learning and memory in human.
Sleep-wakefulness rhythms.