Course Title: Neuroscience

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Neuroscience

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BIOL1131

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

160H Medical Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016

BIOL1131

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Prof Elisa Hill / Prof Sarah Spencer

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7609 / 9925 7745

Course Coordinator Email: elisa.hill@rmit.edu.au / sarah.spencer@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 223.2A.006 / 223.2A.014


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

System Enforced Pre-requisites

None.

Assumed Knowledge

AND 1 of the following

OR

OR


Course Description

In this course you will extend your understanding of the nervous system by learning the detailed anatomy and key physiological processes involved in important bodily functions. You will be able to consider how disruption in anatomy and physiology causes disease and dysfunction at a cellular, organ and system level and how these conditions are experienced by patients. The pathophysiology of neurological disorders will be explored with a focus on recognising what symptoms patients experience and what treatments may be available to specifically address the underlying nervous system problem. This course will also develop your understanding of neurological research by providing specific examples of developments in particular fields.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for the following disciplines:

Biomedical Science (BP231)

  • Exhibit depth and breadth of scientific knowledge (PLO 2)

Chinese Medicine (BP278) and Chiropractic (BP280)

  • Provide specialised health care within a patient-centred, evidence-based framework (PLO 1)
  • Work independently and in teams, specifically to lead and contribute to inter-professional care partnerships (PLO 6)

Osteopathy (BP279)

  • Gather and interpret health information, and employ clinical reasoning to develop differential diagnoses, to inform assessment and management (PLO 3)
  • Work autonomously and collaboratively, to lead and/or contribute to inter-professional healthcare partnerships (PLO 6)


Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Identify and describe human gross and micro anatomy of the nervous system and consider the function of these structures;
  2. Explain the structure, function and regulation of the brain, spinal cord and neurological circuits/pathways in the body and consider how changes to these would affect normal functioning;
  3. Describe the stress response, including the neural pathways and hormonal control involved;
  4. Describe how the brain changes and responds to internal and external stimuli including neuroplasticity;
  5. Evaluate neurological clinical cases to determine the relevant anatomy and pathophysiology causing the patients’ symptoms and signs.


Overview of Learning Activities

This course includes a combination of face to face and online delivery activities as well as self-directed learning.

Online lectures: Each week will include pre-recorded lectures delivered by academic staff. These recordings will be the primary mode of content delivery to students and are essential in developing understanding of the topics.

Face to face practicals: Fortnightly face to face practical classes will allow students to examine neuroanatomy in various forms including cadaveric specimens, digital cadavers and microscopic images.

Online tutorials: Online tutorials will allow students to work through a clinical case with the support of academic staff. This will allow students to apply their developing knowledge acquired in lectures to ‘solve’ why the patient is experiencing their symptoms and signs. These online tutorials will also include preparatory activities for questions that are likely to appear on assessment tasks.


Overview of Learning Resources

Learning resources used in this course include, lecture notes and recordings, practical notes exercises, on-lime activities, and additional textbook references and online resources on selected topics. The course site provides opportunities for students to independently access much of this material. Human anatomy specimens and interactive three dimensional multimedia anatomy teaching tools will all be made available to you during practicals, and at other times for self-directed study, an aid to your learning of neuroanatomical principles.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Intra-semester Online Quizzes  

Weighting 35%  

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 4, 5  

Assessment Task 2: Written assignment

Weighting 20%  

This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 3, 4, 5   

Assessment Task 3: Practical examination

Weighting 20%  

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2   

Assessment Task 4: End of semester written assessment

Weighting 25%  

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5