NFYA04063U Biophysics of Nerves

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Physics
Content
This course introduces into the foundations of the biophysics of nerve pulses and synaptic transmission. This includes the treatment of the basic physical features of nerves, electrical conductance through cell membranes, cable theory, ion channels and in particular the Hodgkin- Huxley model, which forms the basis of the accepted models for the action potential. Synaptic transmission will include electrical postsynaptic phenomena, long term potentiation and Hepp-synapses. We contrast this classical theory of nerves by a fundamental thermodynamical treatment of nerves leading to the possibility of solitons in membranes, thus forming an alternative basis for the origin of the nervous pulse.For physicists, chemists, biochemists and related subject after the bachelor.
Learning Outcome

Skills
The student should be able to:

  • Derive the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz model for membrane permeability
  • Understand and reproduce the rational behind the cable theory
  • Describe the Hodgkin-Huxley theory
  • Describe channel open statistics
  • Understand the present understanding of synaptic transmission
  • Understand and reproduce the thermodynamics of biological membranes
  • Be able to calculate the propagation of solitons in membranes

Knowledge
In this course the physics of nerves is introduced. This includes both, the electrical and the electromechanical treatment of the nerve pulse. These two different ways of looking at the nerve conduction will be discussed critically.

Competences
Through this course, the student makes use of their previous knowledge from other related fields such as physics, chemistry and biochemistry and learns to translate this to the subject at hand, thus obtaining a deeper and broader understanding.

Literature
Handouts, Selected publications.
Not mandatory:
D. Johnston & S. M. S. Wu, Cellular Neurophysiology, MIT Press, 1995B.
Hille,Ionic Channels of Excitable Membranes, Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, 1992
Basic physics, biophysics or physical chemistry education.
Lectures and theoretical exercises
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 0,5
  • Lectures
  • 35
  • Preparation
  • 156,5
  • Theory exercises
  • 14
  • Total
  • 206,0
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 30 min
The student must prepare for 6 talks of 15 minutes on 6 known topics. At the exam one of the topics is chosen randomly without any preparation time and no aids other than keywords. The rest of the oral exam concerns questions about the remaining topics.
Aid
Only certain aids allowed
Keywords on known topics.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
More internal examiners
Criteria for exam assesment
SeeSkills.