2 SWS Lecture (VO)
Total workload 90h: 30h contact / 60 h individual reading
2 SWS Seminar (SE)
Total workload 90h: 30 h contact / 60h individual reading

Recommended previous knowledge/skills: cell biology of neurons

++ Neurosci. knowlg.
+ Independent research
+ Scient. Literature
++ Interdiscipl. knowlg.
+ Data present./disc.

• to gain a general understanding of sensory reception
• to acquire specific knowledge of sensory reception at the molecular and cellular level,

• to be able to perform simple quantitative assessments of detection sensitivity to physical stimuli
• to understand common features in transduction pathways among various senses

General aspects of sensory reception and signal transduction: adequate stimulus, threshold sensitivity and signal-to-noise limitations, activation of receptor proteins
Evolutionary and ecological aspects of sensory reception

The senses:
Chemoreception in the gustatory cells and olfactory sensory neurons
Thermoreception in the skin
Infrared reception in the pit organ
Mechanoreception - auditory hair cells, somatosensory neurons in the skin, lateral line,
Photoreception - ciliary and rhabdomeric photoreceptor cells;
Electroreception in Lorenzini ampullae of elasmobranch fish and in tuberous receptors of
Magnetoreception - candidate structural correlates of

Required reading:
The reading list will be updated on an annual basis to include new developments. The current reading list can be found on StudIP.

Recommended textbook(s) or other literature:
e.g., Kaupp (2010) Nat. Rev. Neurosc. 11:188-200; Palkar et al. (2015) Curr. Opinion Neurobiol. 34:14-19; Pan & Holt (2015) Curr. Opinion Neurobiol. 34:165-171; Lumpkin & Caterina (2007) Nature 445: 858-865; Lamb (2013) Progr. Retinal Eye Res. 36: 52e119; Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 20: 49-94; Baker et al. (2013) J. Exp. Biol. 216:2515-2522; Czech-Damal et al (2013) J. Comp. Physiol. 199:555-563; Hore & Mouritsen (2016) Ann. Rev. Biophys. 45: 299–344; Julius & Nathans (2012) Cold Spring Harbour Perspect Biol 2012;4:a005991;

appr. one week after the last lecture

Type of examination: written exam (75%), presentation in the seminar (25%)
In addition, mandatory but ungraded: presentation on seminar