madrigaljose/course-content

NMA Computational Neuroscience course

NeuroMatch Academy (NMA) Computational Neuroscience syllabus

The content should primarily be accessed from our new ebook: https://compneuro.neuromatch.io/

Objectives: Introduce traditional and emerging computational neuroscience tools, their complementarity, and what they can tell us about the brain. A main focus is on modeling choices, model creation, model evaluation and understanding how they relate to biological questions.

Prerequisites: See here

Course materials

• Welcome Video
• Tutorials: videos, notebooks, and slides
• Projects: videos, notebooks, and slides

Group projects are offered for the interactive track only and will be running during all 3 weeks of NMA!

Course outline

• Week 0 (Optional)

  • Asynchronous: Python Workshop Part 1 for students + Mandatory TA training for ALL TAS
  • Asynchronous: Python Workshop Part 2 for students + Mandatory TA training for ALL TAS
  • Wed, June 30th: Linear Algebra (Mandatory for all Tutorial TAs). Project TAs have separate training.
  • Thus, July 1st:Calculus (Mandatory for all Tutorial TAs). Project TAs have separate training.
  • Fri, July 2nd: Probability & Statistics (Mandatory for all Tutorial TAs). Project TAs have separate training.

• Week 1

  • Mon, July 5: Model Types
  • Tue, July 6: Modeling Practice
  • Wed, July 7: Model Fitting
  • Thu, July 8: Generalized Linear Models
  • Fri, July 9: Dimensionality Reduction

• Week 2

  • Mon, July 12: Deep Learning
  • Tue, July 13: Linear Systems
  • Wed, July 14: Biological Neuron Models
  • Thu, July 15: Dynamic Networks
  • Fri, July 16: Project day!

• Week 3

  • Mon, July 19: Bayesian Decisions
  • Tue, July 20: Hidden Dynamics
  • Wed, July 21: Optimal Control
  • Thu, July 22: Reinforcement Learning
  • Fri, July 23: Network Causality

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Daily schedule

All days (except W1D2, W2D5, and W3D5) will follow this schedule for course time:

Time (Hour)	Lecture
0:00-0:30*	Intro video & text
0:30-0:45**	Pod discussion I
0:45-2:15	Tutorials + nano-lectures I
2:15-3:15	Big break
3:15-4:45	Tutorials + nano-lectures II
4:45-4:55	Pod dicussion II
4:55-5:00	Reflections & content checks
5:05-5:35*	Outro

* The intro and outro will be watched asynchronously, which means that you can watch this lecture before and after the start of the synchronous session

** Note that the synchronous session starts at 0:30 with the first pod discussion!

On W2D1, W2D4, and W3D4:

Time (Hour)	Lecture
5:40-6:40	Live Q&A

On W1D2 (project launch day):

Time (Hour)	Lecture
0:00-0:30*	Intro video & text
0:30-2:30**	Tutorials + nano-lectures I
2:30-2:45	Outro
2:45-3:45	Big break
3:45-5:30	Literature review
5:30-5:45	Break
5:45-8:30***	Project proposal

* The intro and outro will be watched asynchronously, which means that you can watch this lecture before and after the start of the synchronous session

** Note that the synchronous session starts at 0:30 with the first pod discussion!

*** Note that this includes the next available project time, which may be on the next day.

On W2D5 (abstract writing day):

Time (Hour)	Lecture
0:00-2:00*	Abstract workshop
2:00-2:50	Big Break
2:50-4:20	Individual abstract editing
4:20-5:05	Mentor meeting (flexible time)
5:05-5:25	Break
5:25-6:25	Pod abstract swap
6:25-8:00	Finalize abstract

• This day is completely asynchronous, so you should combine tutorial and project time for a total of 8 hours.

On W3D5 (final day!), we will have an extra celebration and pod wrap-ups after the material:

Time (Hour)	Lecture
0:00-0:30*	Intro video & text
0:30-0:45**	Pod discussion I
0:45-2:15	Tutorials + nano-lectures I
2:15-3:15	Big break
3:15-4:45	Tutorials + nano-lectures II
4:45-4:55	Pod dicussion II
4:55-5:00	Reflections & content checks
5:05-5:35*	Outro
5:35-5:45	Break
5:45-6:10	Evaluation report
6:10-7:10	Project presentations
7:10-7:25	Pod farewell
7:25-8:15	Closing ceremony

* The intro and outro will be watched asynchronously, which means that you can watch this lecture before and after the start of the synchronous session

** Note that the synchronous session starts at 0:30 with the first pod discussion!

Licensing

The contents of this repository are shared under under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Software elements are additionally licensed under the BSD (3-Clause) License.

Derivative works may use the license that is more appropriate to the relevant context.