Neurobiology of Mnemonic Functions

Memory is a function that governs almost the whole of behavior. It is a brain function useful both for the effective daily operation of the individual in his social space as well as for the formation of his personality. It is a complex operation that involves virtually every area of ​​the brain. The mnemonic processes are affected by the emotional states and by the behavioral sleep state. On the other hand the mnemonic processes are altered in pathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, pathological anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and can be the central symptomatic elements of such situations. Also characteristic is the mnemonic attenuation in certain aging people. In recent years there has been an exponential increase in scientific knowledge about the mnemonic function at all the organizational levels of the nervous system; molecular, synaptic, cellular, intercellular, systemic and behavioral. Simultaneously, the field of treating the mnemonic disorders is being developed. These data make it necessary to teach the framework of basic knowledge about the physiology of memory functions during the undergraduate medical curriculum.

Objectives

The course aims in: Gaining a general framework of knowledge of mnemonic functions in the various organizational levels, from behavior to the cellular level. Defining the relationship between memory and other brain-bodily functions such as stress, emotion and sleep. Consolidating of the relationship between important mnemonic functions in pathological conditions using specific clinical examples.

Prerequisites

Basic Neurophysiology: Electrophysiology of the Neuron Synaptic Transmission Basic neuroanatomy

Syllabus

The course includes rankings / classifications of the phenomenon of memory / learning as to the type of content, duration and stages, observations and conclusions on the level of behavior, brain regions involved in examples of the phenomenon, the cellular mechanisms that are being considered underlying the mnemonic operations, and the relationship of mnemonic processes with normal and pathological conditions of the body such as stress, aging, sleep, trauma, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and addiction. In order to provide connection between theoretical and practical level, after the presentation of specific topics the students will visit a laboratory to gain a first-hand experience of certain methodologies used in the investigation of mnemonic processes.