Unit information: Neurological and Psychiatric disorders in 2024/25

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

In this unit you will study current topics relevant to key neurological and psychiatric disorders. You will explore and compare different forms of disorders from the molecular to the system level to identify aspects of the pathophysiology that could form the basis for new clinical treatments.

How does this programme fit into your programme of study?

This unit builds on the principles of neuroscience that you have learnt in the first two years of your programme. It will give you greater knowledge of our understanding of neurological and psychiatric disorders at the cutting edge of research. You will also increase your skill in critical analysis and data interpretation, which will support your learning in other units including your research project.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

This unit will provide an overview of a wide range on neurological and psychiatric disorders and where research is now headed in the search for answers and better treatment strategies. The seminars will focus on neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. motor neuron disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's and other dementias); Demyelinating disorders (e.g. multiple sclerosis, periventricular leukomalacia and the pathophysiology of epilepsy, stroke, depression and schizophrenia. You will also learna about research aimed at discovering new therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?

You will have a greater understanding of advanced aspects of neurological and psychiatric disorders and how it fits within the discipline through engaging with cutting edge research in the primary scientific literature. You will gain insight into how specific techniques are used to answer scientific questions, how to analyse and critically appraise data.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of key neurological and psychiatric disorders and where research is headed in the search for answers;
• Appreciate how various neurotransmitters and their receptors are involved in pathological changes;
• Appreciate methodologies and procedures employed to discover novel drug targets and molecules for clinical use;
• Develop an ability to keep up-to-date with recent developments in the field, gather information from the primary scientific literature and to critically evaluate the material and appraise competing theories;
• Develop an understanding of the experimental approaches used to study neurological and psychiatric disorders in human patients and in animal models.

How you will learn

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

Units will include an essay and a data interpretation workshop where you will have the opportunity to produce a formative piece of work to be assessed within the workshop. The workshops will enable you to become familiar with the marking criteria and how they are applied. For the data interpretation and experimental design assessment, you will have the opportunity to write your answer under ‘exam conditions’. This will help you to gain experience of the timing of the exam. In the workshops you will discuss possible answers so that you can self-assess or peer assess your work, with an opportunity to discuss alternative approaches to answering the questions. As well as providing you with feedback on your work, this will support the development of your critical appraisal skills. A selection of peer assessed answers will be moderated by an academic staff member.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

The unit will be assessed through a timed assessment and an exam in the summer assessment period, which contributes 100% of the unit mark.

For the timed assessment (50%), you will be expected to answer one essay question from a choice of three, which will assess your knowledge and critical understanding of the field, and your ability to gather information from the primary scientific literature.

In the exam (50%), you will be expected to answer one multi-part compulsory question assessing data handling/data interpretation and experimental design skills.

When assessment does not go to plan

The reassessment task will be in the same format as the main assessment, that is a timed assessment (50%) and an exam (50%). This will take place in the reassessment period.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHPH30013).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.