Computational Neuroscience

Welcome to the course introducing the fascinating field of Computational Neuroscience.

The lectures take place twice a week: on Mondays between 2pm-2:50pm in Queens Building, room 1.18, and Thursdays between 2pm-2:50pm in Queens Building, room 1.8. In addition the students from Psychology and Physiology Departments ONLY will have practical classes in the computer laboratory in Merchant Venturers Building, room 2.11 on Tuesdays between 11:10am-12noon.

Syllabus and coursework

The following table provides an approximate timetable for lectures and associated coursework. The lectures marked with * and all assignments in the table are for students from the Faculty of Engineering ONLY. Information on practical sessions for Psychology and Physiology students ONLY can be found here.

Hour	Lecture	Who	Assignment	Deadline	Weight
1	Introduction	RB
2	Computational anatomy of the brain	RB
3	* Matlab for Engineers	RB
4	* Solving differential equations numerically	RB	Solving differential equations in Matlab		Self-study
5	* Models of a single neuron	RB	Simulation of a single neuron	5th Mar	10%+5%
6	*
7	Information coding by spikes	RJB
8	Optimal low level vision	RJB
9	Object recognition	RJB
10	Eye movements and saliency	RJB
11	Models of memory in hippocampus	RB
12
13	Models of memory in neocortex	RB
14	SELF-Review of probability, Psychological models of decision	RB
15	Models of decision making in the cortex, animations	RB	Simulation of decision network	2nd May	5%
16	Models of decision making in the basal ganglia	RB
17	Models of reinforcement learning	RB
18
19
20	Models of cognitive control and unit summary	RB

The above lectures will be given by the following people (as indicated in column "Who"):
RJB - Dr. Roland Baddeley, Department of Experimental Psychology
RB - Dr. Rafal Bogacz, Department of Computer Science

The assignments will form 20% of the final mark.

List of abbreviations of brain regions used during the lectures can be downloaded from here.

Support

General: Please see the page about communication in the department for a general introduction.

Help Desk: Can help with general computing questions.

Forum: The forum can provide a useful way for you to help each other. Rafal will check the forum and answer questions during his office hours. Hence please do not send questions by e-mail to Rafal.

Office hours: Rafal is happy to answer questions concerning the unit during his office hours which are on Wednesday 1-2, and on Friday 10-11. His office is in MVB 3.43.

Feedback: There will be a number of forms of feedback on the assignments: (i) The assignments are split into parts, and individual marks will be given for all parts. (ii) After the assignments are marked, sample answers will be provided. (iii) There will be an opportunity to further discuss marks with Alejo (who will mark the assignments). (iv) Individual written feedback will be provided for the extra part of the assignments (i.e. above 70%).