Requirements during the study 

• Quality ISP and its proper implementation (checked by the supervisor).
• Completion of the course Advances in Neurosciences. This is a two-week full-day course, which is an overview of current neuroscience research. It takes place at selected workplaces of Charles University and the Czech Academy of Sciences and Na Homolce Hospital. Tolerated absence is one and a half days.
• Another course from the DSPB (Doctoral study programmes in biomedicine) offer. 
• English language examination (B90003; Examination at the Institute for History of Medicine and Foreign Languages, state language examination or internationally recognized language examination, e.g. TOEFL, Cambridge Certificate)
• State doctoral examination B90001
• Active participation in scientific conferences, congresses and conventions (according to the supervisor's instructions or with his/her recommendation).
• Acquisition of the basics of scientific work so that after graduation the student is capable of performing independent scientific work and publications of its results in internationally recognized journals,

Course organized by the subject area board of Neurosciences:
B90005 Advances in neurosciences - the course in English language will be held every two years. The next one will take place in the academic year 2023/2024. The course will be delivered online in a similar format to the academic year 2021/2022.

The subject area board Neurosciences recognizes following courses in scientific work and biostatistics:

Requirements for internships
In accordance with the Rector's Directive recommends an internship at a foreign institution for a duration of at least one month. However, part of the study abroad can be replaced in justified cases by another form of direct student participation in international cooperation, e.g. participation in a research project.

Listed courses
Basics of scientific work at the Czech Academy of Science (B90068)
Course of basics of scientific activities at the Second Faculty of Medicine CU (DS001)
Introduction to the practical methodology of scientific work at the Third Faculty of Medicine CU (CPGS014)
Biostatistics course for doctors and PhD students in biomedical fields at the First Faculty of Medicine CU (B90211)

Requirements for the State doctoral examination (SDE) 

• Completion of the course Advances in Neurosciences (B90005) and another course within the DSPB (compulsory is at least one according to the choice of the student and the supervisor)
• Acceptance / publication of at least one article in a peer-reviewed journal from the RIV database, which, however, need not have an IF. If the student is a co-author, it must be an original article in a journal with a defined IF; if the student is the first author, it must be an article (original or review). Short messages, letters to the editor, etc. are not recognized for this purpose.

The dates of SDE for the academic year 2023/2024 can be found here.

Examination topics for the SDE
1. Structure and function of the cell membrane
2. Membrane transport
3. Nerve cell excitability and ion channels
4. Membrane and action potential
5. Impulse conduction in nerve fibres
6. Glial cells and their functions
7. Structure and function of the synapses
8. Synaptic receptors
9. Overview of mediators
10. The role of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction and in the CNS
11. Catecholamine mediators, serotonin
12. Opioid peptides and their receptors
13. Neuropeptides and functions of the hypothalamus
14. Excitatory aminoacids as synaptic mediators
15. Glutamate receptors
16. GABA and glycine
17. Nitrogenoxide and its role in the CNS
18. G proteins and cyclic nucleotides in the CNS
19. Protein phosphorylation and regulation of the functions of the nervous system
20. Axonal transport
21. Development of the CNS and neural crest – the role of genes
22. Neural plasticity and regulation
23. The effect of ageing on the nervous system
24. Cerebrospinal fluid and blood-brain-barrier
25. Blood circulation in the brain and energy metabolism of the brain
26. Extracellular space of the CNS
27. Structure and functions of the peripheral nervous system
28. Structure and functions of the spinal cord
29. Structure and functions of the vegetative nervous system
30. Sensory functions, overview, general characteristics of receptors
31. Somatosensory system
32. Pain
33. Eye – receptors and nerve cells
34. Anatomy and physiology of the central visual system
35. Hearing – the inner ear and the central auditory system
36. Vestibular system
37. Chronobiology
38. The motor system of the brain
39. The control of movement – the role of the basal ganglia and the cerebellum
40. The brain and emotions – the role of the limbic system
41. The brain cortex and the integrative functions of the CNS
42. The role of the thalamus
43. The electric activity of the brain – electroencephalography (EEG)
44. The electric activity of the brain – slow (evoked) potentials
45. The electric activity of the brain – evoked potentials
46. Functional brain imaging techniques
47. Recording of neuronal and glial activity – extracellular and intracellular recordings
48. Sleep and wakefulness – their regulation and relation to basic physiological functions
49. Ion-selective microelectrodes, the principles of their function and use
50. Brain sections, the principle of the method and its use
51. Basics of brain anatomy
52. Disorders of speech and gnosia
53. Neurophysiology of learning and memory
54. Ischaemia and hypoxia of the CNS
55. Epilepsy
56. Disorders of the basal ganglia and their mediators
57. Alzheimer´s disease
58. The biochemical aspects of mental disorders
59. Behavioural models of learning and memory
60. Neuroendocrinology
61. Disorders of synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction
62. The effects of toxic substances on the nervous system
63. Demyelinating diseases
64. Psychiatric diseases – basic characteristics
65. Disorders of sleep and wakefulness
66. Stereotaxy of the CNS, Gamma Knife radiosurgery

Recommended literature
Snell, R. S.: Clinical Neuroanatomy for Medical Students. 5th Edition. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2001.
Brodal, P.: The Central Nervous System. 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press, 2004.
Bear, M. F., Connors, B. W., Paradiso, M. A.: Neuroscience – Exploring the Brain, 2nd edition, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2001.
Purves D. et al.: Neuroscience. 2nd Edition, Sinauer Assoc. Sunderland, 2001.
Rosenzweig M. R., Breedlove S. M., Liman A. L.: Biological Psychology. 3rd Edition, Sinauer Assoc. Sunderland, 2002.
R. Cooper, J. R., Bloom, F. E., R. H. Roth R. H.: The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology. 8th Edition, Oxford University Press, 2003

Publication activity requirements
Preparation and implementation of research that leads to the acquisition of results, which are subsequently published and presented in the dissertation thesis. Submission of at least three original full-length scientific papers accepted for publication or already published in journals with a defined impact factor according to WoS, the cumulative value of which exceeds 1.5. The student is the first author of at least one of these publications and the journal impact factor of this publication is above 1.0 according to WoS.

Defence requirements 

SDE (state doctoral exam)

• At least three accepted/published full-length original publications in journals with IF (total IF above 1.5 according to WoS), including at least one publication with first authorship in a journal with IF above 1.0 according to WoS.    
• The Subject Area Board requires a Summary of the Dissertation.