Motor Systems & Disease

Title (credit weighting)

Module 4: Motor systems and disease (15 credits)

Summary

The module covers the following areas: (i) Motor Control, (ii) Basal Ganglia & Movement Disorders. 

Aims

The aim of the module is to provide students with an understanding of the basic science underpinning the study of motor control, and its clinical context, focusing on the study and treatment of movement disorders.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the module students will have been introduced to the motor system, and motor control theories; they will have an understanding of cortical control of the hand, the use of TMS for assessment of motor function, the control and posture of gait, the neurophysiology and neurology of respiration, autonomic function, the neurology of bladder control; and an understanding of the physiology & functional organization of the basal ganglia, the neuropathological basis of movement disorders, the pathogenesis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease, akineticrigid syndromes and choreiform disorders, and the imaging of movement disorders.

Assessment criteria

2 hour unseen written examination

Lectures

  • Introduction to the motor system (B)
  • Cortical control of the hand (B)
  • Motor control theories (B)
  • Use of TMS for assessment of motor function (C)
  • Control of posture and gait
  • Emerging treatments in MS (C)
  • Neurology of respiration (C)
  • Neurophysiology of respiration (B)
  • Neurology of bladder control (C)
  • Neurology of sexual function (C)
  • Functional organisation of the basal ganglia (B)
  • Basal ganglia: pathophysiology (B)
  • Single unit recording/motor control workshop
  • TMS workshop
  • The neuropathological basis of movement disorders (C)
  • Imaging movement disorders (C)
  • Parkinson's plus syndrome (C)
  • Treatment of Parkinson's disease (C)
  • Akinetic rigid syndromes (C)
  • Pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (C)
  • Genetics of movement disorders (C)
  • Autonomic function (C)
  • Autonomic disorders workshop (C)
  • Clinical session 1 (C)
  • Psychiatry of movement disorders (C)
  • Tics and tourettes (C)
  • Choreiform disorders (C)
  • Cerebellar structure, function and control (B)
  • Cerebellar disorders (C)
  • Autoimmunity and autoimmnue diseases of the CNS (C)
  • Inflammatory demyelination of the CNS (C)
  • Clinical session 2 (C)
  • Remyelination mechanisms in demyelinating disease (B)
  • MS and other inflammatory disorders of the CNS (C)
  • Tremor (C)
  • Neuroprotective strategies in inflammatory CNS diseases (B)
  • Vertigo (C)
  • Diagnosis of MS (C)
  • Spastic paraplegia (C)
  • Surgery for movement disorders (C)


Please note: Titles of lectures may change from year to year

The UCL Institute of Neurology promotes teaching and research of the highest quality in neurology and the neurosciences. The Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery are members of  UCL Partners, Europe's largest academic health science partnership.