CPSC 644-600 Cortical Networks:
Spring 2007

Syllabus

I. General Information

Instructor:

Dr. Yoonsuck Choe
Email: choe(a)tamu.edu
Office: HRBB 322B
Phone: 845-5466
Office hours: 3pm-4pm, MWF

TA: N/A

Prerequisite/Restrictions:

CPSC 420, 625, 636, or 633 (or equivalent) and graduate classification; or consent of instructor.

Lectures:

MWF 1:50--2:20pm HRBB 126.

Introduction:

From the course catalog: The architecture of the mammalian cerebral cortex; its modular organization and its network for distributed and parallel processing; cortical networks in perception and memory; neuronal microstructure and dynamical simulation of cortical networks; the cortical network as a proven paradigm for the design of cognitive machines.

About this semester: This course will provide necessary background for modeling the structure (anatomy), function (physiology), and growth (development) of neurons, neuronal circuits, and neuronal networks. Various computational concepts, techniques, and tools necessary for modeling neural systems will be introduced. A selected set of latest papers in the field of computational neuroscience and neuroinformatics will be surveyed.

Textbook:

• Required
  1. Peter Dayan and L. F. Abbott, Theoretical Neuroscience, MIT Press, 2001.
• Recommended
  1. Risto Miikkulainen, James A. Bednar, Yoonsuck Choe, and Joseph Sirosh, Computational Maps in the Visual Cortex, Springer, 2005. [Book web page with all figures]
  2. Gordon M. Shepherd (Editor), The Synaptic Organization of the Brain, Oxford UP, 2004.
  3. Fred Rieke and David Warland and Rob de Ruter van Steveninck and William Bialek, Spikes: Exploring the Neural Code, MIT Press, 1997.
  4. Wulfram Gerstner and Werner M. Kistler, Spiking Neuron Models: Single Neurons, Populations, Plasticity, Cambridge UP, 2002. [Full book online]
  5. James M. Bower and David Beeman, The Book of GENESIS, Telos, 1998. [Full book online]
  6. Erik De Schutter (Editor), Computational Neuroscience: Realistic Modeling for Experimentalists, CRC Press, 2001.
  7. Christof Koch and Idan Segev, Methods in Neuronal Modeling, MIT Press, 1998.
  8. Michael A. Arbib (Editor), The Handbook of Brain Theory and Neural Networks, MIT Press, 2003.
  9. Leo Van Hemmen and Terrence Sejnowski (Editors), 23 Problems in Systems Neuroscience, Oxford UP, 2006.
  10. Purves et al., Neuroscience, Sunderland, MA: Sinauer, 1997.

Administrative Trivia:

1. Computer accounts: if you do not have a unix account, ask for one on the CS web page.
2. Programming languages permitted: C/C++, Java, or Matlab (or octave), and must be executable on CS unix hosts or any windows system in the departmental lab.

Topics to be covered:

See the Weekly Schedule section for more details.

Grading:

1. Quiz (one or two): 10%
2. Paper commentaries (6 to 7, each one paragraph long): 30%
3. Programming assignments/exercises (about 3): 10% each = 30%
4. Term project: proposal, presentation, final report 40%

Grading will be on the absolute scale. The cutoff for an `A' will be at most 90% of total score, 80% for a `B', 70% for a `C', and 60% for a `D'. However, these cutoffs might be lowered at the end of the semester to accomodate the actual distribution of grades.

Academic Integrity Statement:

AGGIE HONOR CODE: An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.

Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the TAMU community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System.

For additional information please visit: http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/

Local Course Policy:

• Collaboration is allowed, but final submitted material should be in your own words.

Students with Disabilities:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities, in Cain Hall or call 845-1637.

Resources:

1. Research resources page
2. Ganeral reading list (u: p: ): includes short blurb about how to find, read, and critique others' work. This list is not the course reading list.

• Lecture notes (in PDF format): all notes will be uploaded in this directory.
• It is your responsibility to download, print, and bring the notes to the class. Notes will be available 24 hours before each class.
• See the 2007 Spring TAMU Calendar for breaks, etc. May 1 is the last class day (note that it is Tuesday, but our class will meet).