Crete Course in Computational Neuroscience.
August 25 - September 21, 1996
The Crete Course in Computational Neuroscience will be held every year in
September on the island of Crete (present funding covers the years 1996-1998).
The Crete Course intends to train advanced students in the use of computer modeling techniques to
study the functional organization of the nervous system.
The course is an intensive four week combined lecture/laboratory series. The lectures are given by invited faculty whose work represents the state of the art in computational neuroscience: the study of how the biophysical properties of neurons and synapses, together with the architecture of neural circuits, produce animal behavior. Each week topics ranging from modeling single cells and subcellular processes through the simulation of simple circuits, large neuronal networks and system level models of the the brain will be covered. The first week is devoted to general introductions on building single neuron, network and system models and to an intensive training in the use of the course software packages.
The computer laboratory is designed to give students hands-on experience with the simulation techniques considered in the lectures. Students will start a simulation project by building models of a neural system of interest to them. The students are guided and supervised in this effort by teaching assistants, complemented by the course directors and the visiting lecturers. The laboratory consists of state of the art graphics unix workstations and software designed for the analysis of both single-cell dynamics and large network properties (GENESIS, NEURON, XPP). The course ends with a presentation of the student projects.
The course is designed for advanced graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in a variety of disciplines, including neurobiology, physics, electrical engineering, computer science and psychology. Students are expected to have a basic background in neurobiology as well as some computer experience. Course enrollment is limited to 28 students so as to assure the highest quality educational experience.
Course Reports:
Crete, channels, cells, circuits and computers. Trends in Neurosciences 20: 53-54,
1997.
Crete Course in Computational Neuroscience. The Physiological Society Magazine 26:
29-30, 1997.