9. IN VIVO PHENOTYPING OF MUTANT RODENTS: INTEGRATING NEURAL ACTIVITY, NEUROCHEMISTRY, HEART RATE AND BEHAVIOR

Aim
Aim of the course for Ph.D. students and post-docs is to advance phenotyping of mutant rodents models with a focus on models of psychopathology using an integrative view by combining behavior assays with electrophysiological, autonomic and neurochemical measures under physiological conditions.

Contents
The course will deal with various behavior tests in the emotional and cognitive domains that may serve to investigate aspects of human affective disorders. The behavioral readouts will partly be complemented by autonomic, electrophysiological, and neurochemical measures for an integrative approach. For that purpose, besides the local organizers working with these methods, international speakers will talk about advanced methods and data analysis for an improved understanding and critically address the prospects and limitations of these methods. Hands-on experience will be provided for various surgical techniques required in this field of research from brain cannula placement to ECG radio-transmitter implantation.

Difference between PhD- and master-course
Not applicable

Duration of the course / ECTS
50 hrs / 1,8 ECTS

Format
A total of 15 lectures from renowned international speakers presented over 6 course days followed by afternoon practicals on methods in behavioral neurosciences

Maximum number of participants
20

Organizers
Dr. T. Pattij
Dr. O. Stiedl (main organizer)
Prof.dr. M. Verhage

Year / dates next course
tba

Program of course
See downloadable file

Registration through
Els Borghols ( els.borghols@cncr.vu.nl )