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Biophysics of Neural Systems
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:06:58
Abstract
This course is about methods and results in Systems and Computational Neurosciences. The lectures cover electrophysiological methods for recording neural activity in the brain, statistical tools and models for spike train data analysis, and mathematical descriptions of neurons and interacting networks of neurons.
Objective
The goal of this course is to introduce Students with a quantitative background to Neurosciences. I will start from the very basics and try to bring students up to a level where they can read and understand the current research literature on computational and systems neurosciences. The goal of the exercises will be first to implement the methods covered in the lectures using Matlab. Data sets with real neural data recorded in the songbird will be made available. At a lager stage, the goal of the exercises will be to read, present, and discuss original research articles that extend on the basics covered in the lectures.
Content
Among the topics covered are: - extracellular and intracellular recording techniques - sensory and motor coding - synaptic dynamics and plasticity - signal estimation and stimulus reconstruction -generative and advanced statistical models of brain function - crosscorrelation and spectral spike train analysis techniques
Resources
Lecture Notes
Extensive lecture notes will be made available. Original research articles will be distributed.
Literature
- Theoretical Neuroscience by Peter Dayan and Larry Abbott. - Biophysics of Computation by Chritoph Koch. - Spikes: Exploring the neural code by Fred Rieke and David Warland et al. - Spiking Neuron Models by Wulfram Gerstner and Werner Kistler. - Original research articles, to be selected.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- oral 30 minutes
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture |
Biophysics of Neural Systems
V: HPP H5, V+U: HPP H7
|
|
2 h weekly |
| exercise | Biophysics of Neural Systems |
|
1 h weekly |