Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Neuroscience Applied to Orthoprosthesis

• code 13550
• course 3
• term Semester 1
• type op
• credits 6

Module: ELECTIVE

Matter: ELECTIVE

Main language of instruction: Catalan

Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish

Head instructor

Dra. Neus RAMOS - nramos@uic.es

This multidisciplinary course is a meant for 3rd year Bioengineering BSc students with a particular
interest in aiding patients with next generation orthoprostheses. Our students will require
understanding of brain physiology, neurological interactions, (sub)conscious perceptions and the
application of orthoprostheses. The teaching language will be English. This course is a prequel of
Robotics courses, where the students will study the electronica and bionics part of prostheses.

The total course consists of 6 ECTs, with 4 lecture hours per week spread over 2 hours in 2 days.
After the first semester, an examination will take place in the third week of January 2020.

Cellular and molecular biology

Anatomy and physiology 

Basic knowledge of Matlab.

Understand the basis of the nervous system comunication

Improve the knowledge about the nervous system anatomy

Know and apply the different neuroimaging techniques to explore the nervous system

Apply all this knowledge on the experimental design of ortheoprothesis

• CB4 - Students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• CE16 - To apply specific Bioengineering terminology both verbally and in writing in a foreign language.
• CE17 - To be able to identify the engineering concepts that can be applied in the fields of biology and health.
• CE20 - To be capable of devising experimentation systems to measure the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of biological materials of human origin.
• CE7 - To know how to recognise anatomy and physiology when applied to the structures Bioengineering involves.
• CE8 - To hold a dialogue based on critical thinking on ideas connected to the main dimensions of the human being
• CG3 - To be able to learn new methods and theories and be versatile so as to adapt to new situations.
• CG4 - To resolve problems based on initiative, be good at decision-making, creativity, critical reasoning and communication, as well as the transmission of knowledge, skills and prowess in the field of Bioengineering
• CT5 - To use information sources in a reliable manner. To manage the acquisition, structuring, analysis and visualisation of data and information in your specialist area and critically evaluate the results of this management.

• To acquire knowledge about basic principles of neurobiology and neuron communication

• To acquire knowledge about the neuroanatomy of the nervous system

• To understand and develop a rigorous scientific approach to the study of brain function and movement disorders.

• To apply the principles of neuroscience to the development of ortheoprothesis.

1. The Neurons and brain cells

2. Fundamentals of bioelectricity: the action potential 

3. Type of synapsis

4. Neurochemistry of synaptic transmission: Neurotransmitters & neuromodulators

5. Receptors and signal transduction

6. The human brain: from embryogenesis to brain death

7. Neuroanatomy of the nervous system

8. Brain Plasticity and learning mechanisms

9. Neuroimaging techniques

10. Somatic sensory system and pain

11. Auditory and vestibular system

12. Visual system

13. Chemical systems: taste and smell

14. Robots and artificial intelligence

- Theoretical classes

- Practical assignments on electroencephalography and magnetic resonance

- Interpretation of scientific papers and critical thinking

The evaluation will include the following activities:

1. Weekly activities & class participation: 20%.
2. First assessment: 20%
3. Final assessment: 60%. Evaluation will be based on a written/test exam. Students must
obtain a grade of 4.5 to pass the course.

Important considerations:

1. Plagiarism, copying or any other action that may be considered cheating will be zero in that evaluation section. Besides, plagiarism during exams will mean the immediate failing of the whole subject.
2. In the second-sitting exams, the maximum grade students will be able to obtain is "Excellent" (grade with honors distinction will not be posible).
3. Changes of the calendar, exam dates or the evaluation system will not be accepted.
4. Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or repeaters will be subjected to the same conditions as the rest of the students.

Bear, M. F., Connors, B. W., & Paradiso, M. A. (Eds.). (2007). Neuroscience: exploring the brain.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Marc W. Halterman. Neuroscience (2005) 3rd Edition Neurology 

Gazzaniga, M., & Ivry, R. B. (2013). Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind: Fourth
International Student Edition. WW Norton.

Kolb, B., & Whishaw, I. Q. (2001). An introduction to brain and behavior. Worth Publishers.
Ganong, W. F. (1980). Manual de fisiología médica. 23ª edición.

E: exam date | R: revision date | 1: first session | 2: second session:

• E1 15/01/2020 14:00h A05