Crete Course in Computational Neuroscience.
August 25 - September 21, 1996
Daily Schedule
Weekdays were divided into two parts: One to three lectures were scheduled each morning.
During the first week, afternoons were spent on tutorials in the use of the supported software
packages. In the following weeks, some optional tutorials were scheduled during the afternoon.
Additionally we had weekly round-table discussions in the early evening. Most of the afternoon
and evening time was spent in the computer laboratory working on the student projects.
First Week: Methods and Passive Membrane Models
The first week gave students a general introduction to the modeling techniques which were covered in more detail later in the course. At the end of this week, students were ready to start working on their modeling project. We also teached cable theory and applications of passive membrane models.
Sunday, Aug. 25
19:45 - 20:00 : Introduction (De Schutter/Segev/Moschovakis)
20:00 - 21:00 : Lecture : "The history of Crete"
Followed by welcome dinner
Monday, Aug. 26
09:30 - 10:00 : Lecture : "Introduction to the course" (De Schutter/segev/Moschovakis)
10:00 - 11:30 : Lecture: "Introduction to cable theory" (Jack)
12:00 - 13:00 : Lecture : "Combined IR-DIC microscopy and patch clamp to probe neuronal function" (Markram)
14:00 - 14:30 : Introduction to the machines, E-mail, etc. (De Schutter)
14:30 - 17:00 : Tutorial: "Unix for beginners" (optional) (Protopapas)
Tuesday, Aug. 27
09:30 - 11:30 : Lecture: "Compartmental modeling" (Segev)
12:00 - 13:00 : Lecture: "Fitting cable parameters to compartmental models" (Burke)
14:00 - 17:00 : Tutorial: "Single cell modeling with GENESIS" (Protopapas)
19:00 - 21:00 : Project feedback discussions (in 3 groups at Sirocco with De Schutter, Moschovakis, Segev)
Wednesday, Aug. 28
09:30 - 11:30 : Lecture: "Modeling voltage-sensitive currents" (De Schutter)
12:00 - 13:00 : Lecture: "Synaptic integration in passive and active dendrites" (Jack)
14:00 - 17:00 : Tutorial: "Single cell modeling with NEURON" (Rapp)
Thursday, Aug. 29
09:30 - 10:30 : Lecture: "Computational models of dendritic morphology" (Burke)
11:00 - 13:00 : Lecture: "System models of brain functions" (Moschovakis)
14:00 - 16:00 : Tutorial: "Practical parameter fitting" (Burke)
18:00 - 19:30 : Round table discussion : What is computational neuroscience and what is its future ?
Friday, Aug. 30
09:30 - 10:30 : Lecture: "Modeling synaptic currents" (De Schutter)
11:00 - 13:00 : Lecture: "Modeling small circuits and realistic neural networks" (Bower)
14:00 - 17:00 : Tutorial: "Network modeling with GENESIS" (Maex)
Saturday & Sunday : trip to Chania and Samaria canyon
Second Week: Cellular Processes
The second week covered active membrane models of single cells and subcellular compartments like presynaptic terminals and dendritic spines. The lectures were a mixture of experimental and computational neuroscience.
Monday, Sept. 2
09:30 - 10:00 : Week Opening Lecture: "How detailed should we be to understand the whole?" (Bower)
11:00 - 12:30 : Lecture: "How neuronal dynamics depend on the properties of voltage-dependent conductances" (Marder)
14:00 - 17:00 : Tutorial: "Advanced GENESIS use" (?)
14:00 - 17:00 : Tutorial: "Advanced NEURON use" (Rapp)
Tuesday, Sept. 3
09:30 - 11:30 : Lecture : "How detailed should we be to understand the whole ?" (Llinas)
11:00 - 12:30 : Lecture: "Numerical integration of differential equations" (Rinzel)
14:00 - 17:00 : Tutorial: "Solving ODEs with XPP" (Rinzel)
19:00 - 21:00 : Project feedback discussions (in 3 groups at Sirocco with De Schutter, Moschovakis, Segev)
Wednesday, Sept. 4
09:30 - 10:30 : Lecture: "Nonlinear dynamics and 'phase planes' of cell excitability and oscillations" (Rinzel)
10:45 - 12:15 : Lecture: "Calcium and transmitter release" (Llinas)
12:30 - 13:30 : Lecture : "Modeling calcium dynamics in spines and dendrites" (De Schutter)
Thursday, Sept. 5
09:30 - 10:30 : Lecture: "Quantal analysis at central synapses : methods, controversies and physiological meaning" (Korn)
10:45 - 11:45 : Lecture: "Kinetic models of ion channel gating mechanisms" (Destexhe)
12:00 - 13:30 : Lecture: "Subthreshold oscillations in the inferior olive" (Yarom)
18:00 - 19:30 : Round table discussion : What have we learned about modeling ?
Friday, Sept. 6
09:30 - 11:00 : Lecture: "An introduction to glutamate and GABA, synaptic physiology and pharmacology" (Thomson)
11:30 - 12:30 : Lecture: "Models for network rhythmogenesis of thalamic spindle waves" (Rinzel)
Friday night & Saturday : trip to Santorini
Third Week: Networks
In the third week models of neural networks were discussed. This ranged from simple circuits in invertebrates to models of mammalian cortex and thalamus. Again, the lectures were a mixture of experimental and computational neuroscience.
Monday, Sept. 9
09:30 - 10:00 : Week Opening Lecture: "How to model the cortex" (Abeles)
10:45 - 11:45 : Lecture: "Dynamics of small rhythmic circuits" (Marder)
12:00 - 13:00 : Lecture : "Long term and short term plasticity at identified synapses in simple circuits" (Korn)
Tuesday, Sept. 10
09:30 - 11:00 : Lecture : "Models of burst generation and undulatory swimming in lamprey" (Ekeberg/Lansner)
11:30 - 12:30 : Lecture: "The auditory brainstem" (Carr)
19:00 - 21:00 : Project feedback discussions (in 3 groups at Sirocco with De Schutter, Moschovakis, Segev)
Wednesday, Sept. 11
09:30 - 10:30 : Lecture: "Microcircuitry of the cortex: advantages and limitations of paired recording techniques" (Thomson)
10:45 - 11:45 : Lecture: "Models of synchronized oscillations in thalamic circuits" (Destexhe)
12:00 - 13:00 : Lecture: "Modeling cortical circuits" (Douglas)
14:00 - 16:00 : Tutorial : "SWIM software demonstration" (Lansner)
Thursday, Sept. 12
09:30 - 10:30 : Lecture: "Models of the auditory system" (Carr)
10:45 - 11:45 : Lecture: "Neuronal basis of gaze control" (Berthoz)
12:00 - 13:30 : Lecture: "Thalamocortical interactions" (Nicolelis)
18:00 - 19:30 : Round table discussion : Do we need multi single-unit recording techniques to understand the brain ?
Friday, Sept. 13
09:30 - 10:30 : Lecture: "Synfire models of cortical processing" (Abeles)
10:45 - 11:45 : Lecture: "VLSI models of neurons and circuits" (Douglas)
12:00 - 13:00 : Lecture: "Analysis of multi-unit recordings" (Nicolelis)
14:00 - 16:00 : Tutorial: "VLSI demonstration" (Douglas)
Saturday : day trip to East Crete
Fourth Week: Systems and Abstract Models
During the final week we considered more abstract and system level approaches to modeling brain function. And of course students rushed to get their projects finished on time...
Monday, Sept. 16
09:30 - 12:30 : Week Opening Lecture: "Information processing in the visual system" (Singer)
Tuesday, Sept. 17
09:30 - 11:00 : Lecture : "Information representation and self-organization of the primary visual cortex" (Tanaka)
11:30 - 13:00 : Lecture: "Understanding the Dynamics of Neural Networks" (Sompolinsky)
19:00 - 21:00 : Project feedback discussions (in 3 groups at Sirocco with De Schutter, Moschovakis, Segev)
Wednesday, Sept. 18
09:30 - 11:00 : Lecture: "The control of mulit-joint movements : computational problems, behavioral studies and models" (Flash)
11:30 - 12:30 : Lecture: "The development and plasticity of cortical circuits" (Singer)
14:00 - 16:00 : Tutorial : "Software tutorial" (Tanaka)
Thursday, Sept. 19
09:30 - 10:30 : Lecture: "Parallel computer simulation of large cortical network models" (Lansner)
11:00 - 12:30 : Lecture: "Sequence seeking - a model combining bottom-up and top-down processing in the visual cortex" (Ullman)
18:00 - 19:30 : Round table discussion #4
Friday, Sept. 20
09:30 - 12:30 : Presentation of student projects 1
14:00 - 17:00 : Presentation of student projects 2
20:00 - ????? : Dinner and farewell party