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Neural Systems
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:38:19
Abstract
This course introduces principles of information processing in neural systems. It covers basic neuroscience for engineering students, experiment techniques used in animal research and methods for inferring neural mechanisms. Students learn about neural information processing and basic principles of natural intelligence and their impact on artificially intelligent systems.
Objective
This course introduces - Basic neurophysiology and mathematical descriptions of neurons - Methods for dissecting animal behavior - Neural recordings in intact nervous systems and information decoding principles - Methods for manipulating the state and activity in selective neuron types - Neuromodulatory systems and their computational roles - Reward circuits and reinforcement learning - Imaging methods for reconstructing the synaptic networks among neurons - Birdsong and language - Neurobiological principles for machine learning.
Content
From active membranes to propagation of action potentials. From synaptic physiology to synaptic learning rules. From receptive fields to neural population decoding. From fluorescence imaging to connectomics. Methods for reading and manipulation neural ensembles. From classical conditioning to reinforcement learning. From the visual system to deep convolutional networks. Brain architectures for learning and memory. From birdsong to computational linguistics.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , MSC , WBZ
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 120 minutes
- Aids
- none (closed book exam)
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Neural Systems |
|
2 h weekly |
| exercise | Neural Systems |
|
1 h weekly |
| independent project | Neural Systems | No time listed | 1 h weekly |
Offered In
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6th Semester: Third Year Core Courses (Can be freely combined, a list of recommendations is available under )
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Biomedical Engineering Master (Only courses offered under "GESS Science in Perspective" count in this category. See "Offered in" tab in course view. For more information, please refer to )
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Recommended Elective Courses (These courses are particularly recommended for the Bioelectronics track. Please consult your track adviser if you wish to select other subjects.)
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General Electives (Students may choose General Electives from the entire course programme of ETH Zurich - with the following restrictions: courses that belong to the first or second year of a Bachelor curriculum at ETH Zurich as well as courses from GESS "Science in Perspective" are not eligible here. The following courses are explicitly recommended to physics students by their lecturers. (Courses in this list may be assigned to the category "General Electives" directly in myStudies. For the category assignment of other eligible courses keep the choice "no category" and take contact with the Study Administration ( ) after having received the credits.))
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