9.011  Systems Neuroscience

9.011 represents the first half of an intensive two-semester introduction to neuroscience for first-year BCS graduate students. The course is aimed at providing a synthetic overview of major principles and techniques associated with neuroscience. We begin by covering the fundamentals of brain anatomy. Next, we explore the visual, auditory, somatosensory and motor systems, emphasizing common themes while delineating specific information processing strategies. Principles derived while surveying these systems are applied to later lectures describing the most recent findings in learning, memory, sleep, and cognition.

Guest Lecturers
Ann Graybiel
Chris Moore
Peter Schiller
Robert Desimone
Chris Brown
Michale Fee
Susumu Tonegawa

Format
The class runs from 2-4 PM MWF. On days which include a student presentation, the first 1.5 hours of class will be a lecture, while the last 15-30 minutes will consist of a student-led discussion of a research article. All students will be responsible for a written summary of the research article, due before the beginning of the class.

Grading

* 40% -- Midterm
* 40% -- Final
* 10% -- Participation (Including paper presentation and participation during others' presentations)
* 10% -- Summaries