SYLLABUS

NSC 4374-001 NEURAL PLASTICITY AND DISORDERS OF THE NERVOUS

SYSTEM

FALL 2005

Instructor: Aage R. Møller PhD

Monday and Wednesday 12:30-1:45 CR 1.212
CALLIER NORTH
Begin: August 22, 2005

The aim of this course is to provide a general understanding of the

anatomical and functional basis for disorders of the peripheral and central
nervous system, including pain. The course will include reading assignments
from a book. Handouts will be provided

OUTLINE

General organization of the nervous system

Peripheral nervous system
Central nervous system

Signs and symptoms of disorders of the nervous system

Peripheral nervous system
The central nervous system

Causes of signs and symptoms

Morphological changes
Metabolic changes
Chemical changes
Functional changes
Neural plasticity

DISORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES

The peripheral nervous system

Causes of disorders of nerves
Trauma
Inflammation
Compression

1
 Irritation of nerves
Injuries to peripheral nerves
Neurapraxia
Axonotmesis
Neurotmesis
Disorders of myelin
Multiple sclerosis
Tumors
Slightly injured nerves peripheral nerve
Change in conduction velocity
Peripheral nerves as impulse generators

Cranial nerves
Injuries from surgical trauma
Vascular irritation

Disorders of sensory systems

General organization of sensory systems
Sensory organs
Receptors
Central nervous system

Hearing
Conductive and cochlear hearing loss
Injury of hair cells
Vision
Disorders of the light conducting apparatus
Retinal disorders

Somatosensory system
Trauma to peripheral nerves
Trauma
Inflammation
Pain
Acute pain
Phantom pain
Anesthesia dolorosa

The central nervous system

Disorders of white matter
Bleeding
Trauma
Stroke
Myelin disorders (MS)
Age related changes

2
 Disorders of gray matters
Cell death
Apoptosis
Trauma (closed head injuries)
Chemicals
Metabolic
Ischemic injuries (Stroke)
Degeneration
Age related changes
Iatrogenic injuries
Abnormal development (incorrect apoptosis, etc)
Sensory systems
Hearing
Auditory nerve disorders
Disorders of nuclei and cerebral cortex
Vision
Optic nerve and optic tract disorders
Central nervous system disorders
Scotoma
Motor systems
Disorders of motoneurons
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Parkinson’s disease
Other motor dysfunction (Spasms etc)

DISORDERS THAT ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH MORPHOLOGICAL

CHANGES
Peripheral nervous system
Compression of peripheral nerves
Irritation of spinal and cranial nerve roots
Central nervous system
Chemicals
Disorders caused by functional changes
Changes in synaptic function
Increase or decrease of synaptic efficacy
Change in time pattern of synaptic input
Causes of changes in synaptic function
Change in relation between inhibition and excitation
Neural plasticity
Rewiring of the brain for compensating loss of function
Good and bad plasticity
Neural plasticity as cause of symptoms and signs of disease
Sensory systems
Vestibular disorders
Tinnitus
Paresthesia

3
 Motor systems
Spasm (Hemifacial spasm)
Synkinesis
Pain
Neuropathic pain
Peripheral nerves
Central physiologic pain
Abnormal sensations (allodynia, hyperpathia)
Root compression
Spinal roots
Nature of back pain
Trigeminal neuralgia
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Similarities between pain and tinnitus
Psychological overlay

Required book:

Møller, A.R. Neural Plasticity aand Disorders of the Nervous System, Cambridge
University Press 2005. (Will be provided by the Instructor at a discounted price)

Handouts will be provided

7/6/05