PN4232 Neuroethology

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

BSc Hons Neuroscience students have priority on this module

Planned timetable

Lectures: Week(s) 1- 5 & 7, 10 & 11 Fri 2-4pm. Practical 1 Week 2 Thu 11-1pm. Practical 2 Week 8 Thu 2-5pm. Practical 3 Week 9 Fri 2-5pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr M F Zwart

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Team Taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Predators and their prey are locked in an evolutionary arms race which continuously refines and improves the abilities of predators to locate and capture prey and of prey to detect and evade predators. The resulting selective pressure has produced spectacular adaptations in both the nervous systems and the anatomy of the animals concerned. This, combined with the usually unambiguous motivation of the animals involved in predator-prey interactions (eat or starve, escape or be eaten) has made such adaptations favoured targets for study by neuroscientists, behavioural scientists and bio-mechanicists. Students on this course will undertake a sense of guided case studies researching the primary literature, and the course will also include some hands-on laboratory demonstrations. The aim ls both to uncover some general principles of neural and biomechanical organisation, and also to reveal the variety and ingenuity with which evolution has found different solutions to shared problem

Assessment pattern

Continual assessment 30% (essay) and 2hr Exam 70%

Re-assessment

30% continual assessment, 70% written exam. Re-assessment applies to failed components only.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

Maximum weekly contact 3 hrs delivered via a combination of lectures, journal clubs, and labs. Details as follows: 2x 2hr lectures in weeks 1,2; 6x 2hr journal clubs in weeks 3,4,5,7,10,11; 2x 3hr labs in weeks 8 and 9.

Scheduled learning hours

22

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

128

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • demonstrate an appreciation how animals detect the presence of other animals, using senses such as vision, hearing, olfaction and special senses such as electric fields
  • demonstrate an understanding of the neural basis of cost-benefit analyses regarding whether to attack or ignore (predators) or escape or freeze (prey)
  • demonstrate an understanding of the neural and biomechanical mechanisms underlying the generation of extremely rapid responses
  • demonstrate an appreciation the role of neurotoxins in predation and defence against predators

PN4232 Neuroethology

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

BSc Hons Neuroscience students have priority on this module

Planned timetable

Lectures: Week(s) 1- 5 & 7, 10 & 11 Fri 2-4pm. Practical 1 Week 2 Thu 11-1pm. Practical 2 Week 8 Thu 2-5pm. Practical 3 Week 9 Fri 2-5pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr M F Zwart

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Team Taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Predators and their prey are locked in an evolutionary arms race which continuously refines and improves the abilities of predators to locate and capture prey and of prey to detect and evade predators. The resulting selective pressure has produced spectacular adaptations in both the nervous systems and the anatomy of the animals concerned. This, combined with the usually unambiguous motivation of the animals involved in predator-prey interactions (eat or starve, escape or be eaten) has made such adaptations favoured targets for study by neuroscientists, behavioural scientists and bio-mechanicists. Students on this course will undertake a sense of guided case studies researching the primary literature, and the course will also include some hands-on laboratory demonstrations. The aim ls both to uncover some general principles of neural and biomechanical organisation, and also to reveal the variety and ingenuity with which evolution has found different solutions to shared problem

Assessment pattern

Continual assessment 30% (essay) and 2hr Exam 70%

Re-assessment

30% continual assessment, 70% written exam. Re-assessment applies to failed components only.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

Maximum weekly contact 3 hrs delivered via a combination of lectures, journal clubs, and labs. Details as follows: 2x 2hr lectures in weeks 1,2; 6x 2hr journal clubs in weeks 3,4,5,7,10,11; 2x 3hr labs in weeks 8 and 9.

Scheduled learning hours

128

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • demonstrate an appreciation how animals detect the presence of other animals, using senses such as vision, hearing, olfaction and special senses such as electric fields
  • demonstrate an understanding of the neural basis of cost-benefit analyses regarding whether to attack or ignore (predators) or escape or freeze (prey)
  • demonstrate an understanding of the neural and biomechanical mechanisms underlying the generation of extremely rapid responses
  • demonstrate an appreciation the role of neurotoxins in predation and defence against predators