CompNeurosci Lab - Dr Gunnar BLOHM

Syllabus (2017-2018)

Classroom: BioSci, Room 1120
Day, time: Tuesdays, 8:30am - 11:30am

Office hours: Parisa Abedi Khoozani (TA) - please make an appointment!
Botterell Hall, Rm 257
Office hours with Parisa are for questions on team-based learning projects and paper presentations. For lecture-related questions, please contact me.

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• Week 1a: Introduction (computational hierarchy of the brain)
  

• Week 1b: Single neuron models (differential equations)

• Week2 - no class

Reading assignment (Sept 19)
Jonas & Kording's chip paper

Write a 1-page (12pt, single line spacing) essay with your scientifically justified opinion on one specific selected point that the paper makes. Submit a PDF version to me by Sept 25 midnight!

• Week 3: Spike coding (information theory)
  

• Week 4: Bayesian integration of information (statistics) - no class!
  

• Week 5: Sensory processing
  

• Week 6: Eye movements (state space models)

Lecture (Oct 17):
Eye movements

Introduction to eye movements

Types
Neural substrates
Control problems

Modelling eye movements

Linear systems theory
Modelling the eye (Laplace formalism)
Gaze holding (the neural integrator)
Motor command generation

Coordinating different eye (and head) movements

Problems and solutions

Slides

Seminar (Oct 24):
Ghasia, et al. (2008) -
Orban de Xivry et al. (2013) -

• Week 7: Decision making (rate models)
  

• Week 8: Modelling attention
  

• Week 9: Adaptation and learning

Lecture (Nov 7):
Adaptation and learning

Introduction

What is learning?
Reward
Plasticity

Motor learning

Systems level approach

Synaptic plasticity

Hebbian learning
Physiology and biophysics

Learning in neural networks

Supervised vs. unsupervised learning
Conditioning and reinforcement learning

Slides

Seminar (Nov 21):
Izhikevich (2007) -
Kool et al. (2016) -

• Week 10: Optimal control theory and arm movements - no class!

Team-based learning project (Nov 7-20): Reading portfolio Scott (2012) Diedrichsen, et al. (2010) Shadmehr & Krakauer (2008) Project - groups Deadline for submission: Nov 20, 11:59pm

"Any fool can know. The point is to understand." (Albert Einstein)

• Week 11: Memory
  

Lecture (Nov 21):
Memory

Introduction

Definition & processes
Long-term vs. short-term memory

Short-term memory

Neuronal behaviour
Potential mechanisms
Link to attention

Memory theories (long-term)

Associative and auto-associative memory
Distributed memory
Sparse coding and capacity

Disorders

Amnesia
Alzheimer's

Slides

Seminar (Nov 28):
Wilson & Linster (2008) -
Couey, et al. (2013) -

• Week 12: TBL Project debriefing
  

• Exam
  

Further readings:

• suggested readings: 

• Ordinary differential equations (ODE):   Primer 1   |   Primer 2   |   Primer 3
• Integrate and fire models:   Gerstner web   |   Miller web   |   review
  

Please read this about academic integrity!