BioNB330 - home - syllabus - lab
Webpage: Course webpages:http://courses.cit.cornell.edu/bionb330
Final exam/paper/project will be due on December 2nd, 2008 at noon. Email it to Christiane at CL243@cornell.edu. No late exams/papers/projects will be accepted!
This course covers some basic ideas of Computational Neuroscience, focusing on neural representation of information in cortical structures. Topics covered include neural coding, vector representations of sensory stimuli, plasticity, associative memory and effects of neuromodulation on neural information representation.
The course consists of lectures and discussions. During lecture the instructor will cover materials from notes and readings. Students are held responsible for all materials, will be expected to participate in the discussion and should be prepared to be called on.
New homework submission policy!
Homework will now be submitted via Blackboard starting with homework #2 (due September 14, 2008). You can find the homework questions under the “Assignment” button, and click “View/Complete Assignment” to attach and submit your work.
For those new to Blackboard:
Check the website:
http://atc.cit.cornell.edu/blackboard/students/index.cfm
To find the course, click the “All Blackboard sites” tab after setting up an account and logging in, and search for “Computational neuroscience”. Homework assignments can be found in the “Homework assignments” folder after clicking the “Assignments” button. When you are ready to submit your work, click “View/Complete Assignment”, attach your work, and click “Submit”.
Grading: The course emphasizes class participation. Homework will be given throughout the semester. Regular short quizzes during the lectures will ensure that all students follow the covered material in an adequate manner. For every student, the quiz with the least points will be omitted from the final grade calculation. The final exam/paper/project will test for understanding and integration of the material covered in class.
Students need to be prepared to be called on during discussions to explain homework assignments, discuss readings and lab assignments.
3 credit lecture course: Class participation: 20%
Quizzes: 30%
Homework: 30%
Final exam/paper/project: 20%
1 credit computer lab: lab reports (100%)
Readings. Readings consist of preparatory readings for the materials covered in class, original literature, as well as explanatory notes that accompany some original literature. Check the webpage and your email regularly for updates on readings. Readings are mandatory.
Lecture notes. Lecture notes and slides, when available, will be posted on the web before each lecture.
Homework: Homework questions will be posted on the website; homework answers have to be submitted to BLACKBOARD by 6pm on the day before the next class. Email, call or come see Christiane or Dustin if you have trouble answering the homework questions. You will be graded only on the final product, independently how much help you receive.
Computer lab: Lab exercises will use the freely available simulator NEURON. Check the lab-page for instructions and assignments. Lab exercises can be completed at home or in the teaching lab (Comstock Hall B160) during lab hours Tuesday afternoon (2.00 - 5.00 pm)). Lab reports are due December 5th at noon, to be emailed to the TA as a single file. Anytime before the last week of classes individual lab reports can be emailed to the TA to be corrected and for suggestions. You will be graded on the final product only.
Question-answer sessions: The class TA, Dustin Rubinstein, will be available to answer questions and discuss the material during lab session. Dustin will be available Tuesday afternoon (time TBA) in the computer lab in Comstock Hall. Christiane Linster, the class instructor will be available every Monday and Wednesday after class to discuss the material and to answer questions (W245 Mudd Hall). You can also email questions or make appointments by email.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be announced at least a week ahead. Quizzes will consist of short questions concerning the material covered in class and take 20-30 minutes during lecture. Notes taken in class as well as materials posted on the webpage can be used during quizzes. Instructions as to how to answer the questions have to be followed precisely.
Final exam/paper/project: The final will be take-home. The questions will be handed out at the last lecture and answers will be due December 2nd.
Material: Preparation readings, notes, homework questions and slides will be posted as on the webpage. They will be added to the syllabus in time for each lecture. Make sure you check the webpage on a regular basis.