PhD [italian version] > Courses > Neurophysiology

PhD: Neurofisiologia [Neurophysiology]

Contact person: Roberto Caminiti (+39) 06 4991 0967
Email: roberto.caminiti@uniroma1.it





Objectives
The PhD Programme aims to impart advanced knowledge of neuroscience with a particular focus on cellular and behavioural neurophysiology, thus helping young investigators to successfully enter the field of research of neuroscience, or seek employment in extra-academic organisations where their unique skills are required.
For a successful outcome, modern neuroscience requires an interdisciplinary approach. The PhD Programme combines techniques and methods from various disciplines such as psychophysics, neuropsychology, behavioural neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, ion channel analysis, synaptic transmission, molecular mechanisms, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. The combination of these disciplines provides a unified picture of the structure and functions of the Central Nervous System (CNS), at its different levels of complexity and organisation.
In order to better achieve this goal, the PhD Programme is separated into two different curricula: Behavioural Neurophysiology and Cellular Neurophysiology.
The subjects and topics covered in each curriculum are listed below.
Behavioural Neurophysiology
- Synaptic integration
- Neural plasticity
- Anatomical substrates of higher-order brain functions
- Neurophysiology of higher-order functions
- Dynamics of distributed systems
- Psychophysics and motor behaviour
- Brain-computer Interface (BCI)
- Experimental data analysis
- Principles underlying the use and care of laboratory animals
- Neuroethics


Cellular Neurophysiology
- Biotechnology applied to the study of the CNS
- Cellular signalling
- Signal transduction
- Synaptic transmission
- Receptor neuromodulation
- Neurodegeneration
- Neuroprotection
- Cellular bases of epilepsy
- Principles underlying the use and care of laboratory animals
- Neuroethics

Teaching is based on regular lectures offered by the members of the PhD Teaching Council. Members of the Council also serve as tutors who follow students in their cultural and technical development during the work on their chosen research project. Students are also actively involved in the organisation of Journal Clubs and participate in seminars offered by eminent neuroscientists.
The duration of the Programme is three years of which up to 15 months can be spent abroad in an internationally recognised laboratory. This provides students the opportunity to gain advanced and updated knowledge and a deep understanding of specialised aspects concerning their fields of research and/or their specific research projects.