An IBRO Neuroscience School.
Part of the EU Neuro-IT Network of Excellence
July 30 - August 24, 2001
International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste Portugal
The Trieste Course in Computational Neuroscience is an intensive four week combined lecture and laboratory series to train advanced students in the use of computer modeling and analysis techniques to study the functional organisation of biological nervous systems. The program covers biological systems and models ranging from biologically realistic simulations of single cells and neural networks to system models. The course seeks to provide participants with the tools to simulate and study the functional properties of neural systems of their interest as well as to understand the general advantages and pitfalls of these approaches.
The course consists of two complementary parts. A distinguished international faculty gives morning lectures on topics in experimental and computational neuroscience. The rest of the day is devoted to practicals, including learning how to use simulation software and how to implement a model of the system the student wishes to study on individual unix workstations.
The first week of the course introduces students to essential neuro-biological concepts and to the most important techniques in modeling single cells, networks and neural systems. Students learn how to apply software packages like GENESIS, MATLAB, NEURON, XPP, etc. to the solution of their problems. During the following three weeks the lectures will cover specific brain functions, dealing respectively with sensory systems and especially vision, with memory and attention, with motor planning and control. 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 brain will be covered. The course ends with a presentation of the students' projects.
The EU Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience is designed for advanced graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in a variety of disciplines, including neuroscience, physics, electrical engineering, computer science and psychology. Students' English conversation and reading skills should be fluent as all the courses are taught in English. Students are expected to have a basic background in neurobiology as well as some computer experience.