Computational Neuroscience (CSC598,CSC688)

home
syllabus


Spring 2020
Instructor: Odelia Schwartz (odelia at cs miami edu)
Tues, Thurs 12:30-1:45
Room, Whitten LC 170 (Tuesdays)
Room, Ungar 305 (Thursday computer labs)


NOTE: From March 24, we will have classes on Zoom at the regular class time. I have sent out an email with the link to the zoom location. Notes and links to the code will be posted on the class website as usual.

Description: The brain is an intriguing system, and understanding how it works is increasingly becoming a cross disciplinary effort, combining computational tools with biological and psychological data. This course will introduce students to the field of computational neuroscience, including the analysis and modeling of neural systems. We will address models of how, why, and what, neural systems are doing; from the level of single neurons through to populations of neurons and perception and behavior. We will also make some connections with approaches in machine learning. The course will include lectures, along with some paper discussions and computer tutorials in Matlab.

Prerequisites: Statistics/probability, calculus 1 and 2; or permission from instructor. No prior experience in programming or biology/neuroscience are required.

General:
  • The class will include a number of Matlab tutorials and labs, including an introduction to Matlab. No prior programming experience is required. You will be able to run the tutorial code, modify model parameters, sometimes add missing pieces and answer questions which we will discuss during lab. We will try to pair students with computer science or computational background, with students who have biology or psychology backgrounds.
  • The class will include several paper discussions that cover recent progress in the field, or classical papers.
  • The class will include a final project / assignment.
  • There will be no exams.
  • There is no required textbook. Suggested textbook in the field:
    Theoretical Neuroscience: Computational and Mathematical Modeling of Neural Systems, by Peter Dayan and L.F. Abbott.
  • Instructor office hours: Please stop by at any time if the door is open, or email odelia at cs miami edu to schedule an appointment in Ungar 310D.