course-details-portlet

NEVR3001

Cellular and Systems Neuroscience

Choose study year
Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Written examination
Special deadlines for course registration
Autumn: 2025-06-01

About

About the course

Course content

The course will introduce the student to key cellular, molecular, neural network, and systems level mechanisms relevant to central nervous system organization, structure, and function. These include fundamental biology of the neuron, synaptic transmission, axonal transport, axon growth and guidance, and basic brain microcircuit organization. Furthermore, the course will cover fundamental principles of neuroplasticity as well as key cellular and network dynamics determining nervous system function, but also responses to injury and neurodegenerative disease.

Learning outcome

Learning outcomes

After completing the NEVR3001 course and passing the exam the student should be able to:

Knowledge

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the cell biology of the neuron, neuron-glia interactions, cellular neurophysiology, and signal integration across neuronal assemblies.
  • Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of structural and functional connectivity, and key neuroplasticity mechanisms underlying nervous system organization and function.

Skills

  • Understand scientific literature on cellular and systems neuroscience.
  • Discuss fundamental concepts in cellular and systems neuroscience drawing upon lecture contents and relevant course literature.
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of how molecular genetic and electrophysiology tools can be applied in the study of neural systems.

General competence

  • Apply critical thinking and draw upon key concepts from the course to communicate a general understanding of how neural networks organize, acquire and maintain normal function, and also how they respond to injury or disease.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, team-based learning (TBL), flipped classroom, and participation in group-based discussions

The course is taught in the autumn semester with a final examination in December. The language of teaching and examination is English.

This course has restricted admission. Students admitted to the MSc in Neuroscience programme are guaranteed a place. Other students must apply for a place by the given deadlines.

Further on evaluation

Regular final examination is given in the autumn semester only. Students with legitimate leave of absence at the final examination and students who receive the grade F may take a re-sit examination in the spring semester. In case of only a few candidates, the re-sit examination may be conducted as an oral examination.

Specific conditions

Exam registration requires that class registration is approved in the same semester.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Admission to a programme of study is required:

Msc in Neuroscience

Restricted admission to classes:

Students not enrolled in MSc in Neuroscience may be individually assessed for a seat if they have a relevant background in accordance with the admission criteria to the MSc in Neuroscience programme: https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/msneur/admission

More information about restricted admission and application deadline: https://i.ntnu.no/wiki/-/wiki/English/Admission+to+courses+with+restricted+admission

Course materials

Reading materials (textbook chapters and scientific papers) that supplement each lecture will be listed on the course syllabus and will be made available to students electronically at the start of the term.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
NEVR3020 7.5 sp Autumn 2008
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Neuroscience
  • Biology
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Medicine
  • Psychology

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Written examination
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

Written examination
Weighting 100/100 Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room
The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Re-sit examination - Spring 2026

Written examination
Weighting 100/100 Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room
The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.