Biological Sciences

This is an introductory course for students who took general biology in first year and deals with major issues in modern cell biology. The main theme of the course is to understand how individual cells can maintain life and reproduce for the next generation. Emphasis is on (1) structural-functional relationships of the cellular organelles as well as molecules; (2) flow of genetic information inside cells and tissues, and (3) cell cycle control, intracellular signal transduction, and carcinogenesis. Toward this end, the course also deals with the subjects of cellular physiology; basic genetic mechanisms; differentiation; development of multicellular organisms, as well as inborn genetic diseases.

The module focuses on attention and cognitive control, memory, language, social interaction, problem solving and thinking, and decision making. This module communicates knowledge about the neurocognitive basis of emotion and how cognitive function is influenced by emotion and introduces different types of brain damage and psychoorganic syndromes. Students participate in laboratory demonstrations to train important skills for conducting empirical studies in cognitive neuroscience, including reporting the results in accordance with the international norms for publication in psychology. This course is part of PSYCHOLOGY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE (30 ECTS).

From low frequency minute vibrations to infrasonic and ultrasonic frequencies, from waterborne to air-transmitted sounds, this course introduces what sound is (i.e. fundamentals of sound, how sound travels etc.), how and why it matters to animals (i.e. mechanisms and adaptive functions of sound production and reception) in both terrestrial and marine habitats, bioacoustic instrumentation and software, industrial applications, and how environmental issues involving sounds such as terrestrial and ocean noise pollution are affecting animals and humans.

This course provides an overview of the functional and phylogenetic diversity of invertebrate and vertebrate animals. The material is presented within the conceptual framework of evolution, the foundation of biology. Lectures explore the diversity of major functional systems and behavior in the context of environmental challenges and the ecological roles of various animal groups. Laboratory classes include dissections and demonstrations of the functional anatomy of invertebrates and vertebrates, as well as experiments.

This course introduces students to the study of biological timekeeping by examining how neural mechanisms of circadian rhythms, arousal, metabolism and sleep interact to dictate daily and seasonal variations in  behavior and physiology. The course covers a range of topics with a particular focus on the neuronal basis for circadian timing and sleep in mammals, how these are regulated by environmental light, and how the internal clockwork influences the rest of the brain and body in health and disease.