Course Details

Course Information

Semester	Course Unit Code	Course Unit Title	T+P+L	Credit	Number of ECTS Credits	Last Updated Date
5	MBG466	NEUROBIOLOGY OF NEUROLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS	3+0+0	3	5	23.05.2026

Course Details

Language of Instruction	English
Level of Course Unit	Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program	MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS
Type of Program	Formal Education
Type of Course Unit	Elective
Course Delivery Method	Face To Face
Objectives of the Course	1.Exploring molecular and cellular bases of neurological and psychiatric disorders within an integrated neurobiological framework. 2.Examining shared mechanisms—including neuroinflammation, neurotransmission, and genetic regulation—linking diverse brain pathologies. 3.Developing critical and research-oriented skills through analysis of scientific literature, discussion, and student presentations.
Course Content	This course explores the molecular, cellular, and genetic mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. Emphasizing the continuum between brain and behavior, it integrates topics across neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Through selected examples such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, students examine how disruptions in signaling pathways, altered gene expression, and synaptic dysfunction contribute to disease pathogenesis. Combining lecture discussions with analysis of primary literature, the course highlights how mechanistic discoveries drive experimental models and inform molecular pharmacology and therapeutic innovation in modern neuroscience.
Course Methods and Techniques	Lectures, Interactive Discussions, Multimedia Presentations, Readings and Literature Review, Quizzes and Exams
Prerequisites and co-requisities	None
Course Coordinator	Asist Prof.Dr. Berrak Yetimler https://avesis.agu.edu.tr/berrak.yetimler berrak.yetimler@agu.edu.tr
Name of Lecturers	Asist Prof.Dr. BERRAK YETİMLER
Assistants	None
Work Placement(s)	No

Recommended or Required Reading

Resources	The course sldies and the relevant textbook recommendations will be shared throughout the semester
Course Notes	Weekly lecture slides, relevant scientific articles, and supporting visuals will be shared during class. All materials will be accessible on Canvas in the week following each session.
Documents	Canvas
Assignments	Canvas
Exams	Canvas

Course Category

Science	%50
Health	%50

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria

In-Term Studies	Quantity	Percentage
Quiz/Küçük Sınav	2	% 50
Final examination	1	% 50
Total	3	% 100

ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload

Activities	Quantity	Duration	Total Work Load
Ev Ödevi	2	1	2
Sunum	2	2	4
Kısa Sınav	2	2	4
Yüz Yüze Ders	14	10	140
Final Sınavı	1	3	3
Total Work Load			Number of ECTS Credits 5 153

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

No	Learning Outcomes
1	Define molecular and cellular processes governing normal brain function and how their disruption leads to disease
2	Compare mechanistic pathways underlying selected neurological and psychiatric disorders.
3	Evaluate how genetic, environmental, and cellular factors interact to shape brain pathophysiology.
4	Critically assess experimental data and primary literature addressing molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets, and communicate findings effectively through written or oral formats.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week	Topics	Study Materials	Materials
1	ntroduction to Neurobiology: neurons, glia, synapses, and brain organization
2	Molecular signaling in the nervous system: neurotransmission, receptors, ion channels, and synaptic plasticity
3	Neurodevelopment and brain disorders: neural development, neurogenetics, and environmental influences
4	Neuroinflammation and brain–immune interactions
5	Molecular basis of neurodegeneration I: protein aggregation and Alzheimer’s disease
6	Molecular basis of neurodegeneration II: Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders
7	Epilepsy and neuronal excitability: ion channels, circuits, and seizure mechanisms
8	Psychiatric disorders I: schizophrenia, dopamine signaling, and synaptic dysfunction
9	Psychiatric disorders II: depression, anxiety, and stress-related pathways
10	Neurotransmitter systems and molecular pharmacology in brain disorders
11	Genetics, epigenetics, and gene expression changes in neurological and psychiatric diseases
12	Experimental models in neuroscience: animal models, cellular systems, and translational approaches
13	Analysis of literature and student presentations
14	Emerging therapies and future directions in molecular neuroscience; general course review

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

	P1	P2	P3	P4	P5	P6	P7	P8	P9	P10
C1	4	4	5	1	4	2	1	1	2	2
C2	4	4	5	1	4	2	1	1	2	2
C3	4	3	4	2	4	3	1	1	3	3
C4	5	3	4	5	4	4	2	1	2	2

Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant

https://sis.agu.edu.tr/oibs/bologna/progCourseDetails.aspx?curCourse=79743&lang=en

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