Calculus,
Pre-calculus,
Exploring Quantum Physics,
Computational Neuroscience,
Coding the Matrix: Linear Algebra through Computer Science Applications,
Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression,
Drugs and the Brain
https://www.coursera.org/course/bluebrain
Next Session:
| March 2013 (9 weeks long) | Sign Up |
About the Course
Probably
the greatest challenge of the “21st century of the brain” is to understand how subcellular
and cellular neuronal processes give rise to behavior – movement, perception,
emotions, memory and creativity. This course will discuss, step-by-step, how
modern molecular, optical, electrical, anatomical and theoretical methods have provided
fascinating insights into the operation of the elementary building blocks of
brains and, most importantly, how neuronal mechanisms underlie memory and
learning processes. We will next discuss why computer simulations are so
essential for understanding both neuronal “life ware” and the emergence of networks
dynamics (e.g., as in the “Blue Brain Project”).
The course will start by highlighting a few recent brain-excitements, including treating the sick brain via electrical stimulation, recent attempts at “reading the brain code” for brain-machine interfaces, new neuro-anatomical techniques (“Brainbow” and connectomics) and physiological methods (optogenetics) that enables us to record/activate the living, behaving brain at single cell resolution. We will end by discussing emerging frontiers in brain research, including the interaction between brain research and the arts. As an added bonus, several lectures will be taught by acclaimed neuroscientists who are experts in their respective field.
The course will start by highlighting a few recent brain-excitements, including treating the sick brain via electrical stimulation, recent attempts at “reading the brain code” for brain-machine interfaces, new neuro-anatomical techniques (“Brainbow” and connectomics) and physiological methods (optogenetics) that enables us to record/activate the living, behaving brain at single cell resolution. We will end by discussing emerging frontiers in brain research, including the interaction between brain research and the arts. As an added bonus, several lectures will be taught by acclaimed neuroscientists who are experts in their respective field.
About the Instructor(s)
Prof. Idan Segev is the David & Inez Myers Professor in Computational Neuroscience and former director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Neural
Computation (ICNC) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he received his B.Sc. in Math, and Ph.D. in experimental and theoretical neurobiology. His work has been published in top journals such as Science, Nature, PNAS and he has received several awards including “best teacher” in international brain-courses, including the “EU advance course in computational neuroscience”). His research team utilizes computational and theoretical tools to study how neurons, the elementary microchips of the brain, compute and dynamically adapt to our ever-changing environment. In recent years, his group has worked jointly with several experimental groups worldwide in an endeavor to model a whole piece of the mammalian cortex with the ultimate goal of unraveling how local fine variations within the cortical network underlie specific behavioral function and may give rise to certain brain diseases or to healthy and “individual” brains. Segev takes a keen interest in the connection between art and the brain, and recently co-edited an “Artists Book” with original etchings by ten top Israeli artists, which were prompted by an encounter with ICNC researchers.
Recommended Background
No background is
required.
Suggested Readings
From Neuron to Brain
John G. Nicholls et al., Fifth Edition Sinauer Associates, Inc (2011).
